Fourteen people were arrested after police seized the equivalent of about 3,000 bottles of fake liquor.

The 12 men and two women were rounded up during an islandwide operation - the biggest so far this year.

Officers confiscated $336,000 worth of moonshine, production equipment and counterfeiting accessories. Six of the suspects - aged between 39 and 56 - were charged in court on Thursday.

The syndicate was busted during a 16-hour police operation on Tuesday. Officers raided a production facility at Woodlands Industrial Park, two distribution outlets at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and Hougang, a storage area at Aljunied Road, and a retail outlet at Beach Road.

They confiscated 520 bottles of counterfeit liquor bearing the trademarks of renowned brands such as Chivas Regal. Also seized were 65 jerry cans containing adulterated liquor.

The syndicate's suspected leader was arrested, along with the alleged runners and production crew.

Moonshine is usually bought by bootleggers, who sell it for half the price of the real thing. Smaller pubs and clubs are also known to serve the dodgy drinks to cut costs. There have been cases in which moonshine was found to be contaminated by petrol.

"Adulterated liquor not only hurts the interests of legitimate companies but may also harm the health of consumers," said Superintendent Teo Cheow Beng, who heads the Criminal Investigation Department's intellectual property rights branch.

"Police take a serious view of such syndicated piracy and will pursue all available leads to clamp down on offenders." Anyone found guilty of selling, distributing or manufacturing counterfeit liquor could face up to five years in jail. They can also be fined up to $10,000 per item, capped at a maximum of $100,000.

The six charged yesterday are Singaporeans Ng Yan Puae, 50; Lai Tze Sian, 56; Phar Loo Beng, 52; and Ng Hock Joo, 47; plus Malaysians Lim Ai Kok, 39; and Tan Teng Suan, 46.

brynasim@sph.com.sg



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