Thought the Black Label gave you a headache lately? – here’s why!

Police have busted what they said was the biggest fake whisky operation in the southern Thai town of Hat Yai.

A Malaysian man was caught red handed filling up bottles of “Johnny Walker Black Label” with a much cheaper brand that had been doctored to give it a similar taste and smell, reported Manager Online.

And the bottles came complete with tax strips and proper labels to complete a thoroughly professional looking job.

Caught was Chan Sion Heng, 35, who was filling up the bottles when the Crime Suppression Division arrived.

But while the rented depot was being fully checked the suspect’s father, named as David, who was involved in the operation managed to flee the scene.

The CSD found more than 1000 empty bottles and boxes. They said that the premises were set up as a second hand bottle recycling depot to cover its real operation.

Bottles of “King Robert” whisky were bought at 2,400 baht a case.

These were then doctored to give the impression that they were the much more expensive Black Label and passed on for 5,500 baht a case.

The booze was made to order and there was no shortage of customers.

Police said it was the biggest operation of its kind in the Hat Yai, Songkhla area.

Two Malaysians were hired as lookouts to warn of raids, they said. The report did not indicate what had happened to these people.

The suspect was found to be on a blacklist as having committed the same crime multiple times before but had not mended his ways.

Now the enquiry is being expanded to find out who the customers are who ordered the fake booze.

Police said that the fake booze was dangerous and would “cause headaches”.

Thai Visa / Manager Online

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