Illicit Trade in Alcohol - A Growing Phenomenon

Illicit trade in the alcohol industry is pervasive and involves a number of illegal activities, including legitimately produced alcohol smuggled into a country, counterfeit alcohol which refers to fraudulent alcohol packaged as a legitimate brand, artisanal alcohols entering commercial markets without regulatory approvals and alcohol products which do not conform with regulatory guidelines, among others.

As the global illicit trade in alcohol continues to grow, new trends emerge as suppliers seek alternative means to sell their products. Capitalising on shortages in the market during the pandemic, suppliers seized the opportunity to expand their operations and hop on the e-commerce trend. There was a notable increase in the presence of these products on social media and online marketplaces. Online platforms present a unique opportunity for suppliers to go undetected while selling counterfeit and inferior products to consumers. This trend continues to have severe consequences for communities and economies around the world.

In Trinidad and Tobago, as much as 20% of popular brands of imported scotch, vodka and cognac are likely to be smuggled through illicit means. Most of this illicit alcohol is bought during the Christmas period through formal channels such as supermarkets, wholesale distributors, liquor stores and shops. As the holidays near, consumers are on the hunt for attractive deals and can be easily deceived into purchasing illicit alcohol products.

Consumers do not consider buying illicit alcohol to be a serious crime as they perceive these purchases to be “good deals”. However, illicitly traded alcohol can pose significant health risks to consumers. Counterfeit alcohol, in particular, can be manufactured using dangerous, unapproved ingredients. According to Interpol, counterfeit alcohol often contains substances such as antifreeze, nail polish remover and even paint stripper, which can cause blindness and organ failure.

Members of the public can help protect themselves, their families and friends by carefully inspecting packaging before making a purchase. Consumers can identify counterfeit products and avoid the risks caused by the following these steps:

• Purchase alcoholic beverages from trusted retailers
• Smell the alcohol before consumption and avoid drinking foul-smelling alcohol
• Avoid alcohol brand names that have not been heard of before
• Ensure bottles are sealed properly and avoid drinking from any that are not properly sealed
• Check the bottle for misprints or design errors that hint at counterfeiting.

Join us as we continue to examine other key areas currently impacted by illicit trade in Trinidad and Tobago.

If you suspect items are being illicitly traded, you can make an anonymous report by calling or sending a tip online at www.crimestopperstt.com.