International Wine Fraud Syndicate Dismantled in Europe

French and Italian police successfully dismantled a sophisticated wine fraud syndicate that sold counterfeit vintage wine for up to €15,000 each, arresting six individuals.

In a collaborative operation, French and Italian police have dismantled an international wine fraud syndicate that deceptively sold low-quality wines under counterfeit labels of prestigious French vineyards. The group, which earned €2 million from the scam, was driven by a 40-year-old Russian national, allegedly its ringleader. Arrests were made in Paris, Turin, and Milan involving six suspects, including a French national charged with organized fraud and money laundering. Europol seized counterfeit wine bottles, labeling materials, and luxury goods totaling €1.4 million in value, along with more than €100,000 in cash. In recent years, wine counterfeiting has become more lucrative due to the exorbitant prices of genuine grand cru wines, attracting organized criminal activity centered in Italy, where expertise in wine production and a supportive criminal network are present. This intricate fraud makes detection difficult even for original producers. Motivated by international demand, notably from China, the opportunity to profit from producing nearly undetectable faux vintage bottles remains a significant temptation.