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| Illegal 'vodka' blindness warning | Illegal 'vodka' blindness warning |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Trading standards officers say fake vodka produced at an illegal bottling plant in Cardiff could cause blindness and should not be drunk. | Trading standards officers say fake vodka produced at an illegal bottling plant in Cardiff could cause blindness and should not be drunk. |
| Thousands of litres of counterfeit "Christoff Vodka" were uncovered at the factory in Grangetown, while it was found on sale at a pub in Bridgend. | |
| Initial tests showed it had a methanol content many times what is permitted. | |
| "It has a high methanol content which is harmful and can cause blindness," said a spokesman. | "It has a high methanol content which is harmful and can cause blindness," said a spokesman. |
| The illegal factory, on the Curran Embankment, was uncovered by HM Revenue and Customs in a raid on Thursday. | The illegal factory, on the Curran Embankment, was uncovered by HM Revenue and Customs in a raid on Thursday. |
| It is not vodka and should not be consumed Steven Hay, trading standards Officers said it was the biggest seizure of illicit alcohol they had made for some time | It is not vodka and should not be consumed Steven Hay, trading standards Officers said it was the biggest seizure of illicit alcohol they had made for some time |
| Three Polish men arrested in connection with the find were released without charge. | Three Polish men arrested in connection with the find were released without charge. |
| The factory was being dismantled by customs officers. | The factory was being dismantled by customs officers. |
| Despite officials warning people who have bought "Christoff Vodka" to pour it away, as it could contain methylated spirits, public protection officers have discovered at least one pub selling the product. | |
| A pub in Bridgend, which has not been named, was found to have the drink after trading standards officers spotted it for sale before the illegal bottling plant in Cardiff was found, and went back to investigate. | |
| Early indications at the discovery of the illegal bottling plant showed that a quantity had left the factory for distribution, according to trading standards. | |
| Official Steven Hay said: "The general public and traders across south Wales and beyond should be on the lookout for this particular brand of 'vodka'. | Official Steven Hay said: "The general public and traders across south Wales and beyond should be on the lookout for this particular brand of 'vodka'. |
| "It is not vodka and should not be consumed." | "It is not vodka and should not be consumed." |
| On Thursday Kathryn Corcoran, from HM Customs, said the vodka seizure was a "big operation". | On Thursday Kathryn Corcoran, from HM Customs, said the vodka seizure was a "big operation". |
| Ms Corcoran said 5,000 bottles had been found "labelled and ready to go" and vats containing thousands more litres which were waiting to be bottled, equating to about £500,000 in lost revenue altogether. | Ms Corcoran said 5,000 bottles had been found "labelled and ready to go" and vats containing thousands more litres which were waiting to be bottled, equating to about £500,000 in lost revenue altogether. |
| Officers also found methylated spirits and industrial alcohol in the warehouse. | Officers also found methylated spirits and industrial alcohol in the warehouse. |
| Mr Hay appealed for anyone who has any '1806 Christoff 100% Pure Vodka' in their possession or knows where any of the illicit alcohol is to get in touch with Cardiff trading standards or their local trading standards service. | Mr Hay appealed for anyone who has any '1806 Christoff 100% Pure Vodka' in their possession or knows where any of the illicit alcohol is to get in touch with Cardiff trading standards or their local trading standards service. |