Authorities seize 200,000 litres of fake Tequila in Mexico

Following a building search, authorities seized almost 200,000 litres of fake Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco, believed to be the largest such haul after 11,340 litres of adulterated agave spirit was uncovered in Chile last December.

As reported by El Universal, following a complaint by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT), federal prosecutors and investigators seized around 199,000 litres of fake Tequila from a property in the El Álamo industrial park last week.

Inside the building, investigators found two metal containers, each filled with around 100,000 litres of a colourless liquid which “smelt like alcohol”. They also confiscated a smaller, 20-litre storage vessel containing a colourless liquid labelled “ethyl alcohol”.

In addition, officials found labels bearing the name ‘Tequila La Noria, S.A. de C.V.’ which were believed to be destined for the liquid contained in the two metal tanks.

The confiscated Tequila was removed in six tanker trucks and taken to a warehouse belonging to the Attorney General’s office.

Investigations carried out by the federal public prosecutor’s office and the Criminal Investigation Agency are ongoing.