Police have successfully confiscated over 75,000 liters of bootleg beer at a port in Scotland, making headlines across British national media. This operation saw the recovery of around 132,000 pints of unlawful lager from the P&O ferry terminal that links Scotland with Larne, Northern Ireland.
The operation was part of an intensive week-long surveillance at the port, executed by the police in collaboration with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It's believed the beer was smuggled from the Republic of Ireland through Northern Ireland and into Scotland using heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
Reports from The Sun indicate that customs officers conducted targeted inspections on at least three lorries at Cairnryan, finding the contraband beer.
The initiative to seize the illicit beer was a collaborative effort between HMRC and Police Scotland, both key players in the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.
“We can confirm a total of 75,000 litres of suspected illicit beer was seized at Cairnryan Port between 23 and 28 February 2024 following a joint operation with Police Scotland,” an HMRC spokesman stated.
“As committed partners of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, HMRC and Police Scotland will not tolerate the sale of illegal alcohol. Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of HMRC’s strategy to clamp down on the illicit alcohol market which costs the UK around £1billion per year,” he added.
