In Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Abruzzo, according to the Italian regional portal "Lecce News 24", 62 wineries and apartments were searched by the police on suspicion of wine counterfeiting, must enrichment and illegal oenological techniques. This was reported by the "wine industry". According to the report, six suspects were remanded in custody, and 30 other accused are under investigation. The public prosecutor has ordered the provisional seizure of four wine companies and 30 million litres of allegedly adulterated wine. The suspects are accused of having sold cheap Spanish wine as Italian DOC and IGT quality at dumping prices on the international market as well. They are also accused of having illegally enriched must with sugar and other illegal additives in order to increase the production volume. Heavily flawed wine is also alleged to have been embellished with illegal cellar techniques. According to the news portal, the cellars "Agrisalento" and "Enosystems" in Copertino, the "Megale Hellas" in San Pietro Vernotico, as well as the "C.C.I.B. Food Industry" in Rome are accused.
In addition, an employee of the central Italian unit for food control and anti-fraud is accused of having informed the companies concerned about the internal affairs of the authority and upcoming controls.
(uka)