Police in Türkiye seized 13,000 litres of illegal and counterfeit champagne during a raid on a hotel store room in the resort town of Kemer, officials said.
The operation was carried out by Antalya Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams under instructions from the Kemer Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators found thousands of litres of champagne packed with fake labels and prepared for sale.
The alcohol, which authorities said was worth millions of lira, was being kept in the hotel depot and was believed to be intended for distribution during the tourism season. Judicial proceedings have begun.
The raid was launched after intelligence work and detailed checks identified a hotel in Kemer as a suspected centre for illegal alcohol trade. Officers then moved to the address and searched the storage area in detail.
They found what authorities described as a stockpile of counterfeit champagne ready to enter the market. The total seizure came to 13,000 litres, according to the count carried out at the scene.
Authorities said the bottles and stock had been taken into custody. They did not identify the hotel or disclose whether anyone had been detained.
The case comes as Türkiye’s tourism season reaches its busiest period, when hotels and hospitality businesses face increased demand for alcohol and other premium goods. Counterfeit alcohol can pose a serious public health risk, and officials often target illegal production and distribution networks before they reach consumers.
In resort destinations such as Antalya province, enforcement agencies regularly carry out inspections linked to tax evasion, smuggling and fake brand products. The latest seizure adds to a wider crackdown on illegal alcohol trade in the region.
Officials have not yet given further details on where the counterfeit champagne was produced or how it entered the hotel supply chain. The judicial investigation is continuing.
