World

Raids and Arrests in European Wine Counterfeiting Case

Seven arrested over sales of imposters of one of the world's most-expensive wines

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An international group of counterfeiters sold at least 400 bottles of fake Romanee-Conti wine, one of the world's most expensive, for at least 2 million euros ($2.7 million), French prosecutors said.

Seven people were arrested after raids on 20 residences and depots in various European Union countries, and more suspects are being pursued, the Dijon prosecutor's office said in a statement. French police seized 69 bottles in France, and tests showed a blend of poor quality wine in fake bottles, the prosecutor's office said.

"The contents of the examined bottles were a mediocre wine with very poor flavor and quality composed of blends of undetermined origins," it said.