The spirits industry has long-been blighted by criminal gangs which seek to gain from stealing and selling hoards of valuable expressions across the sector.

From rare pre-Prohibiton whiskey to US$1.1m worth of vodka, these are 10 of the biggest spirits heists

Such syndicates seem to have grew in prevalence over recent years as whisky and Cognac gain in value, and brands become more internationally available.

One of the most high profile spirits thefts reached its dramatic denouement last month when nine people were charged for their alleged involvement in a long-running Bourbon crime racket.

In 2013, one caretaker was accused of drinking an incredible US$100,000 worth of rare pre-Prohibition whiskey, while a cunning gang made away with more than one million dollars worth of high-end vodka.

Keep scrolling to see 10 of the biggest spirits heists in recent years.

American Airlines miniatures

US$10,000 (£6,572)

Just last month, an airport cleaner was arrested for allegedly pilfering more than 1,400 miniature bottles of spirits worth US$10,000 from American Airlines over a three-year period. The bottles – which carry an average RRP of US$7.00 – were discovered by a member of airport security at Juanette Cullum’s home. The case is ongoing but Cullum faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty.

Glenglassaugh Distillery

£10,000

An “unusual” theft occurred in June last year when more than £10,000 worth of rare Glenglassaugh Scotch whisky was stolen from the distillery’s visitors’ centre during a raid. Among the stolen lots, taken when the centre was closed, were rare bottles of 37-year-old and 40-year-old Glenglassaugh whiskies, worth £372 and £1,200 respectively.

Rare Balvenie bottle

CA$50,000 (£21,195)

The Balvenie fans lamented the loss of the last remaining bottle of David Stewart’s The Balvenie Fifty in Canada, which was stolen from a liquor store in Montreal, Canada earlier this year. The rare expression, worth CA$50,000, was launched to commemorate malt master Stewart’s 50^th birthday and was one of only 88 created. Local press reported that a the thief entered a government-run liquor store “possibly armed” with a handgun.

Yeba Buena Beverage

US$70,000 (£46,000)

Yeba Buena Beverage, which distils and distributes spirits, reported that US$70,000 worth of Cognac had been stolen from its storage area in February last year. Employees discovered that nine out of 84 cases of Cognac were missing during a routine stock inventory, while a hole in the fence was found next to the area authorities believe the stocks were lifted.

Diageo UK haulage site

£70,000

Diageo was targeted by thieves in 2013 when more than £70,000 worth of its spirits brands was lifted from a UK haulage site, where they were awaiting transport to Manchester Airport. The culprits entered a small family-run yard in the village of Tewitfield, near Lancaster, and lifted 1,314 bottles of Gordon’s gin, 912 bottles and 120 half bottles of Baileys Irish Cream, 744 bottles of Bell’s Original Whiskey and 540 bottles of Smirnoff Blue Vodka.

Rare pre-Prohibition whiskey

US$100,000 (£65,731)

In March 2013 the former caretaker of a mansion in Pennsylvania was charged with drinking more than 50 bottles of antique, pre-Prohibition whiskey belonging to his employer, together worth US$100,000. John Saunders’ DNA was found on three of the bottles, but he denied the charges. The case then came to an abrupt end when he died at the age of 63.

Pappy Van Winkle and Wild Turkey

US$100,000 (£65,731)

One of the most high profile cases of spirits theft in recent years culminated in the indictment of nine people in Kentucky last month. After a lengthy investigation by Kentucky police, a criminal syndicate – led by Buffalo Trace worker Gilbert Thomas Curtsinger – has been accused to orchestrated the high profile thefts of Wild Turkey and Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon.

In March this year, US$30,000 worth of Bourbon was discovered in the backyard of Curtsinger, which police subsequently connected to the theft of US$26,000 worth of rare Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon in 2013. Two members of the ring have pleaded guilty, but the case is on-going.

Currie European Transport

£250,000

In December 2013, a “daring” thief made away with an entire trailer containing £250,000 worth of spirits from Currie European Transport site in Scotland. Around 2,400 cases of spirits were stolen, the majority of which contained Glen’s vodka along with some cases of brandy, whisky and gin. The trailer has not yet been recovered, nor have any arrests been made.

Sydney distribution centre

AU$700,000 (£366,000)

Police were left flabbergasted after more than AU$700,000 worth of alcohol, predominantly vodka, Scotch and rum, was stolen from a Sydney distribution centre over the course of six months in 2013. Detectives believed the thefts were carried out over 13 separate occasions at the product distribution centre in Eastern Creek, West Sydney. Two men were later charged in the case.

Spirits of the Tsars Golden Vodka

US$1.1m (£723,000)

The most costly heist to have blighted the spirits industry in recent years when a gang of thieves made off with 752 cases of Spirits of the Tsars Golden Vodka worth US$1.1m in 2013. The Ukrainian-made vodka that features 24-carat gold on its label retails for between US$250 in the off-trade and $1,200 in the on-trade. A group of men caught on CCTV leaving a customs warehouse in Miami several times over the course of five hours in three different vehicles having punched a hole in the wall directly to the area the vodka was stored.