The ‘chemist’ at
the middle of a conspiracy to manufacture fake vodka from a remote
farm in Leicestershire, has been jailed today for two years.
Wojciech Jan Herbst, is the sixth and final member of the gang to
be jailed for his part in the scam. Five other men were sentenced
last year (25 November 2011) for their role in the plot, following
the successful investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Herbst, from Poland, made the denatured alcohol (methylated
spirits) clear before it was diluted and bottled and passed off as
genuine product. Forensic analysis showed it was unfit for human consumption.
Simon De Kayne, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation
for HMRC, said:
“This was a substantial production, bottling and distribution
plant on an industrial scale. His gang would have known they were
putting this highly toxic product into a bottle for human
consumption.”
“However, they were only interested in lining their pockets, with
no regard for the health of consumers or the safety of those
working at the unit or for the local environment. The revenue loss
to public finances was £1.5 million.”
The investigation by HMRC uncovered the unregulated and fire
hazardous industrial unit at Moscow Farm, near Great Dalby, during
raids in September 2009. They seized nine thousand bottles of fake
vodka, branded as Glen’s, 25,000 litres of pure denatured alcohol
(enough to make around 100,000 bottles of vodka), manufacturing
equipment, bottles and counterfeit packaging – labels and
cardboard boxes.
Evidence showed around 165,000 bottles of the fake vodka had
been distributed across the UK for sale.
Denatured alcohol such as methylated spirit is coloured purple to
distinguish it from drinkable alcohol and is not fit for human
consumption. It is used as a solvent and contains hundreds of
additives.
Notes for editors
1. Photographs of the defendant are available on request as well
as moving footage and stills of the site, goods seized, aerial
surveillance and a pictorial diagram of the organised crime gang
and their roles. Summaries of expert witness statements on the
fire and health hazards are also available.
2. Details of the defendant sentenced today, 9 January 2012 at
Hull Crown Court include:
* Wojciech Jan Herbst, (DOB
22.12.56), of 80-462 Gdansk, Dywizjonu 303 11D m.4, Poland, was
found guilty of charges of Conspiracy to Cheat the Revenue and
sentenced in his absence, to two years in prison.
There is an outstanding UK arrest warrant for Herbst and a
European arrest warrant will now be issued to Polish authorities
for his extradition to the UK.
Herbst was the chemist treating the denatured alcohol.
3. Details of those sentenced on, 25 November 2011, at Hull
Crown Court are available at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=422242&SubjectId=10
4. To view the documents associated with this release, please use
the link below:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=422760&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=257
5. Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk
NAT 02/12 Issued by HM Revenue & Customs
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