11 thousand liters — this is how much illegal alcohol was seized by employees of the Criminal Directorate of the Financial Administration during a large-scale operation in the Trnava district. The preliminary damage from excise tax alone was estimated at over 66 thousand euros, Refresher reported.
But money is not the main thing here. All the seized products did not meet sanitary standards and could pose a real threat to the health of those who would buy them.
What exactly was found
During searches of residential and non-residential premises, law enforcement officers found a whole illegal production:
equipment for making, filtering, and bottling alcoholic beverages;
over 1000 liters of ethyl alcohol;
flavorings, labels, and fake excise stamps.
Fake excise stamps mean that the products were supposed to look like regular alcohol from a store. A buyer who sees the stamp on a bottle usually does not suspect it has been replaced.
Why this alcohol is dangerous
The Slovak Financial Administration, in its official announcement, directly warns: the seized alcohol did not meet sanitary standards. Illegal workshops do not undergo any quality control, so anything can end up in the bottle, from technical alcohol to mixtures with methanol. Methanol poisoning has already occurred in the country, and the most severe cases ended in blindness or death.
How to recognize suspicious alcohol:
the price is noticeably lower than in regular stores;
sold directly, at markets, or through ads, not in a retail store;
a damaged, crookedly applied, or missing excise stamp (kolok);
a label with errors, without manufacturer details, or without Czech/Slovak text.
If acquaintances or sellers on messengers offer you a "cheap vodka supply," saving a few euros is not worth a hospital stay.
What the suspect faces
An investigation is currently underway in the case of illegal alcohol production on suspicion. If found guilty, the suspect faces imprisonment for up to three years. The investigation is ongoing, so the number of suspects may increase.
For those who are engaged in or plan to engage in illegal alcohol trade "on the side," this is a reason to remember that the financial administration is actively working in this area, and excise tax in Slovakia is one of the most sensitive topics for control.
