Since the beginning of this year, 33 tons of counterfeit alcohol have been found in Istanbul during special operations. This action was taken after numerous cases of poisoning with counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
Since the beginning of the year, more than a hundred people have been admitted to the city's hospitals with symptoms of alcohol poisoning, 29 of them are in intensive care. Several dozen people could not be saved.
The Municipality of Istanbul is taking urgent measures to combat the spread of counterfeit and illegal alcohol products. Businesses selling alcohol must place high-frequency surveillance cameras in all production and retail premises. Recordings from cameras must be stored for at least 30 days. Control institutions are allowed to conduct inspections at these enterprises at any time of the day.
Punishments for these crimes are being tightened. Four suspects were arrested on charges of premeditated murder. In total, 15 people were detained on suspicion of placing a large amount of counterfeit alcohol on the market.
In January, licenses to sell alcohol were revoked from 64 establishments suspected of selling counterfeit alcohol products, as well as selling alcoholic beverages without labeling. The investigation against the suspects continues.
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