A Lincolnshire mini-supermarket has lost its licence to sell alcohol after police discovered that it was selling g toxic "vodka" that was 150,000 times the maximum legal strength.
The owners of Zabka, a European mini market in Lincoln, had their booze licence revoked after a police raid uncovered illicit super-strength vodka "unfit for human consumption."
Officers who stormed the store on December 9 last year seized 190 illegal medicine products, 62 bottles of non-duty paid alcohol and five bottles of Krackoff Vodka.
The Krackoff Vodka was sent for testing and was found to contain a staggering 150,000 times more industrial alcohol than is legally allowed.
Lincoln City Council Licensing Sub-Committee revoked Zabka's Premises Licence at a hearing on Thursday, February 11.
Lincolnshire Police said the potentially poisonous alcohol was obtained on the black market and is usually distributed by criminal gangs.
Sergeant Kim Enderby, from the force's Alcohol Licensing Department, said: "The revocation of this Premises Licence sends a strong message from Lincoln City Council, that this sort of activity at licensed stores will not be tolerated.
"The fake Vodka was branded as Krackoff Vodka, tests indicated it contained Industrial Alcohol and was unfit for human consumption.
"If anyone sees or has bought this particular product they should contact the police or trading standards."
Sgt Enderby added: "This is the first known seizure of this particular illicit brand on mainland Britain and we are working with the Food Standards Agency to trace its origins.
"Other brands seized were genuine but paying duty on them had been avoided.
"None of these products would have been available from a legitimate wholesaler; they are distributed by criminal gangs via the illegal black market.
"Alongside the alcohol we seized, were a large amount of foreign branded medicines on sale."
"We seized 190 packets, some of which proved to be prescription only products in the UK and should have only been available from a pharmacy.
"The store potentially put the health of its customers at risk, as well as gaining unfair advantage over neighbouring legitimate stores.
"The owner Mr Ali claimed all the alcohol was for personal use and that he did not know the medicines were illegal.
"He told the committee that the medicines were purchased off an unknown male who came to his store.
"He displayed a lack of knowledge of his responsibilities within the Licensing Act and the committee believed he presented a risk to promoting the Licensing Objectives.
"We remain committed to the disruption, investigation and prosecution of all criminal behaviour being conducted on our Licensed Premises."
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