Cracking the Case: Hangzhou Seizes Counterfeit Moutai in Major Operation
In a recent operation, authorities in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, intercepted a suspicious batch of Kweichow Flying Fairy Moutai for inspection.
As reported by The Straits Times, the Hangzhou Gongshu Market Superintend Management Bureau received a tip-off from a local merchant. The merchant raised concerns about the authenticity of 95 bottles of Moutai purchased, a suspicion shared in a WeChat post on December 12.
Upon examination, officers discovered concealed holes behind the back labels of five cases, totaling 30 bottles. The entire batch, valued at 250,000 yuan (approximately £27,571), was under scrutiny.
Upon closer inspection, hair-thin pinholes were uncovered, leading to the revelation that 76 out of the 95 bottles were counterfeits, as confirmed by appraisers from the Moutai distillery.
The counterfeiters had employed professional equipment to create 0.2mm holes in the bottles after removing the labels, detailed the distillery’s appraisers to China Consumer News. These holes were then meticulously plugged with porcelain powder before reapplying the labels.
Further investigation revealed that the counterfeit Moutai had been sold door-to-door to a company in Ningbo, another city in Zhejiang province, and subsequently supplied to the reporting merchant.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and further investigations are ongoing, as per The Straits Times report.
This incident underscores the ongoing battle against counterfeiting in the global wine and spirits industry, highlighting the need for vigilance and stringent quality checks.
