Blinding vodka supplier gets sentenced

Publication date: Thursday 14 April 2011

A trader linked to a vodka that can cause blindness and the distribution of counterfeit vodka, was given a nine month suspended jail sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work and forced to pay a total of £4,000 fines and forfeits, at Wood Green Crown Court this week (April 12).

Mr Ahmet Turgut Oztas, of South London, was charged with unauthorised use of a trademark relating to Spar Imperial Vodka, following raids on a Hornsey business premises in 2008.

During two raids on the Hornsey Industrial Estate, N8, Haringey Council Trading Standards Officers, police and customs officers seized over 1,100 bottles of counterfeit "Spar Imperial" branded vodka containing dangerous levels of methanol, which were subject to a Food Standards Agency health alert.

Officers also seized quantities of "Glens" brand of vodka which was also believed to be counterfeit. In addition, documents and computers were seized for analysis.

Haringey's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods,Cllr Nilgun Canver, said:

"The Food Standards Agency warned us that this counterfeit Spar Imperial Vodka had levels of methanol which could cause serious health problems, including blindness, if drunk in large quantities.

"The Hornsey warehouse was identified as a possible source of supply and I am so pleased we managed to get to this vodka before more of it could be distributed. Many young people buy vodka because it is cheap and who knows what this could do to them?"

Documents seized at the warehouse led Trading Standards officers to three further locations where more counterfeit vodka was seized. In addition to the vodka, five articulated lorry loads of alcohol were seized by customs officers together with several vehicles.

The dangerous vodka was condemned and destroyed by Council Environmental Health Officers shortly after the seizure, and the company Sisecam Ltd was fined £3,641.45 under food safety legislation.

However, the court case relating to the counterfeit vodka was delayed until recently while further investigations took place.

Following a long and complex investigation, Haringey Council prosecuted Mr Oztas under the Trade Marks Act 1994. On 22 March 2011 at Wood Green Crown Court, he was found guilty on two counts of trademark offences. Sentencing was adjourned until yesterday, 12 April 2011.

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