Counterfeit wine and prosecco worth £500k seized in NFCU alcohol fraud investigation

The Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has seized more than 67,000 bottles of suspected counterfeit wine and prosecco worth an estimated £500,000 as part of an investigation into alcohol fraud.

Officers arrested a 61-year-old man on 3 March on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud linked to the alleged importation and distribution of misrepresented wine and prosecco. He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Officers recovered 90 pallets of wine and prosecco during coordinated searches at three warehouses across North London and Essex. The bottles, believed to be counterfeit or falsely labelled, have an estimated retail value of around £500,000.

The FSA said there is currently no indication the products pose a health risk to consumers. However, the case underscores persistent challenges around authenticity and fraud within alcohol supply chains.

Multi-agency crackdown on food fraud

Andrew Quinn, Head of the National Food Crime Unit, said:

Seizing over 67,000 bottles of counterfeit product and making an arrest sends a strong message to those who seek to profit from deceiving consumers – we will take action.

This operation is a clear example of what we can achieve when agencies work together with a shared purpose. I want to thank all partners involved in this operation for their professionalism and commitment throughout.

Food fraud is not a victimless crime. It undermines legitimate businesses and erodes consumer trust. In this case, the concern is one of authenticity and quality – consumers deserve to know that what they are buying is exactly what it claims to be.

The NFCU remains committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that criminal activity has no place in the UK food system.”

The enforcement activity brought together multiple partners including the Metropolitan Police and its North Regional Organised Crime Unit Gangs Partnership and Safer Neighbourhood Team, Enfield Local Authority and Trading Standards, Epping Forest District Council, Essex Trading Standards, and the FSA’s Wine Inspection Team.

The seizure is the latest in a series of high-profile NFCU investigations targeting food fraud across the UK supply chain, including a £500,000 poultry theft case that resulted in a prison sentence and a smoked salmon fraud probe that saw four individuals charged by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Anyone who suspects food fraud can report it confidentially through Food Crime Confidential via the FSA website or by calling 0800 028 1180.