Authorities in Sochi confiscated over 40,000 liters of illicit alcohol
In the picturesque resort town of Sochi, authorities have intensified efforts to combat the illegal trade of alcohol, following a series of tragic deaths linked to tainted alcoholic beverages.
Since the beginning of 2025, over 360 instances of illegal alcohol trading have been intercepted in Sochi. In response, the local administration, along with the police, have been conducting regular raids in all resort areas, targeting both small private vendors and large commercial outlets.
The deaths occurred in August 2025, with several tourists dying from alcohol poisoning after purchasing alcohol from street vendors at a market in Sochi. The alcohol that caused the fatalities was counterfeit, and the location of the deaths was the market in Sochi.
Following these tragic events, police have intensified their raids on markets such as the Kazachy market, detaining suspects involved in selling artisanal alcohol produced by unidentified manufacturers and falsely passed off as homemade. Two women were arrested and charged under Article 238 of Russia’s Criminal Code related to unsafe goods production.
In addition to street-level enforcement, there has been broader regulatory scrutiny on commercial outlets. While not specific to Sochi, other Russian regions like Vologda have imposed bans and license suspensions on liquor stores amid safety concerns, reflecting a nationwide hardline stance on alcohol safety and illegal sales.
Police, with support from the Russian Guard, are actively conducting seizures of illegal alcohol, sending samples for laboratory analysis to trace manufacturers and networks involved in the illegal trade along the coastal area. In late July, a network in the Lazarevsky district was raided, resulting in the seizure of approximately 12 tons of wine, cha-cha, and cognac of unknown origin.
Authorities continue to warn the public and tourists in Sochi to avoid consuming unknown or illicit alcoholic products due to the high risk of fatal methanol poisoning. Nearly 44,000 liters of counterfeit alcohol products have been seized from illegal circulation in Sochi.
The resort administration has also reported operations against illegal trading of tobacco and other products, indicating a broader commitment to maintaining public safety in the popular tourist destination. Despite these efforts, traders and illicit distribution networks persist along the coast, making it an active area of law enforcement focus.
[1] https://www.sochi.ru/news/region/2025/08/15/sobytie-v-sochi-po-prichine-smerti-turistov-o-zaderzhannyh-prodavtsah-nelegalnogo-alkogolyu [2] https://www.vologda.ru/news/2025/07/23/vologda-zakonchila-delo-o-zakazu-prodazhi-nelegalnogo-alkogolyu [3] https://www.russianews.ru/society/2025/08/17/sochi-zaderzhali-prodavtsa-nelegalnogo-alkogolyu [4] https://www.tass.ru/obschestvo/12764480
- In an attempt to ensure public health and wellness, authorities in Sochi have intensified their crackdown on the illegal trade of alcohol, specifically focusing on markets like the Kazachy market and large commercial outlets, following a series of tragic deaths from tainted counterfeit alcohol.
- Apart from alcohol, authorities in Sochi have also been conducting operations against the illegal trading of tobacco and other products, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining general-news and crime-and-justice issues in the popular tourist destination.
