A TWO-day operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal alcohol in the West Midlands uncovered more than 14,000 litres of alcohol, all believed to be illicit.

Supported by Trading Standards, 70 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) visited 18 retail premises in Oldbury, Birmingham and West Bromwich on December 5 and 6.

The visits, as part of HMRC’s Alcohol Taskforce activity, led to the seizure of illicit alcohol products, worth an estimated £24,000 in duty, from 16 premises.

This included 76 litres of spirits, 1,860 litres of wine and 23,000 cans of beer.

Neil Everard, assistant director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “The sale of illegal alcohol will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies.

“Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clamp down on the illicit alcohol market. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.”

Anyone with information on illicit alcohol should call HMRC’s fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.