Two arrested over bootleg alcohol company

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of illegally operating a bootleg alcohol company.

Police arrested the two suspects – aged 49 and 58 – in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, over the weekend.

A total of 1,974 bottles were confiscated along with various other consumer products that were not registered.

The company – owned by the 49-year-old man – officially dealt in detergents, but had been transformed into an illicit alcohol-bottling unit, as reported by Ekathimerini.

The pair was allegedly substituting labels on Bulgaria-made bottles of alcohol with labels of well-known brands, although the names of these have not yet been disclosed.

It is thought the 58-year-old suspect was responsible for importing the liquor, but it is not known if the alcohol was sold in bars and clubs around the city.