A hugefake vodka factory has been uncovered after a fire at a warehouse. 25,000 thousand litres of counterfeit Smirnoff vodka were unearthed after fire crews were called to a suspicious blaze in Honey Street, Cheetham Hill. They contacted officers from HM Revenue & Customs who stepped in to seize the moonshine. Officials believe the plant at the derelict, 2 storey factory could have been the region's capital of counterfeit booze. It included bottling & labelling machinery alongside vats of the counterfeit vodka & could have been used to distribute the contraband across the region. Tests are still being carried out but it is understood analysis so far has shown the booze is not toxic. The estimated value in tax evasion alone is more than £240,000. HMRC are still trying to trace the fraudsters behind the operation. Genuine bottles of 70cl Smirnoff cost around £15, meaning those behind the factory could have netted hundreds of thousands more. Graham Forbes, from HMRC Special Investigations, said the plant was well established. He said: "The fraudsters behind this crime have not only evaded duty & produced fake UK excise duty paid stamps, but the vodka has been manufactured illegally, hijacking a well-known brand name & without any health & safety checks. It seems that alcohol was being handled & bottled at this site in very large quantities & in unhygienic conditions which in no way reflect the stringent standards under which the industry manufactures spirits." Nigel Murphy, from Manchester council, said: "I would like to praise the officers who helped get these bottles off our streets & would also like to warn Manchester residents to be on their guard when buying spirits in off-licences during the run up to Christmas."
