China seizes 75,200 boxes of fake premium liquor in nationwide crackdown

Chinese authorities said they seized more than 75,000 cases of counterfeit alcohol and detained 40 suspects in a nationwide crackdown on fake spirits marketed as exclusive products for government agencies and the military.

The State Council’s food safety office said investigators broke up several criminal networks tied to so-called “special supply” alcohol after online monitoring and media reports flagged products presented as having official or military links. Authorities said the operation covered 52 cases across the country.

Officials put the total seizure at 75,200 boxes of illicit alcohol. According to the authorities, most of the products were counterfeit baijiu made by blending industrial alcohol with flavorings and then packaging the drinks as premium spirits.

The crackdown also reached licensed and unlicensed parts of the supply chain. Authorities said they shut down five licensed liquor manufacturers and 36 sales groups linked to the scheme. They also dismantled three unlicensed production sites and investigated one flavoring manufacturer, along with seven packaging and printing companies.

Online sales were another focus. Authorities said they found violations involving seven internet platform operators, 61 online stores suspected of selling fake alcohol and 78 livestreaming channels accused of using misleading marketing tactics to attract buyers. Regulators ordered all identified products and related promotional material removed from online platforms.

The suspects face allegations including false advertising and the manufacture or sale of counterfeit goods, according to the authorities.

Counterfeiting has long been a problem in China’s drinks trade, especially for premium wine and spirits brands that can face reputational damage and traceability risks when fake bottles, labels, capsules and closures circulate at scale. This latest enforcement action may matter beyond baijiu because it signals closer scrutiny of organized counterfeit networks that can also affect imported wines and other high-value beverages.