The GNR seized a whopping 8285 litres of Medronho from a production warehouse in Loulé on Tuesday, during an operation which identified a team of 5 people making the strong alcoholic beverage illegally.
After an investigation called operation called “ARBUTOS I and II” that lasted eight months, 20 search warrants were carried out, two in distilleries, eight in vehicles and 10 in warehouses, none authorised for production or storage of Medronho.
“The value of the seized Medronho brandy amounts to around €237,520. The introduction of this product for consumption would have caused damage to the Portuguese State, in terms of Special Consumption Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT), to an approximate value of €99,151”, said the GNR in a statement.
The case was handed over to the Judicial Court of Loulé and Olhão.
The GNR stresses that the objective of these actions “is to ensure compliance with the legal provisions for the production and storage of alcoholic beverages, thus contributing to the fight against the parallel economy in Portugal”.
