Children arrested in bootleg alcohol raid

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Police confiscate 1,910 bottles of bootleg alcohol in a raid in Istanbul. DHA photo

Three minors have been arrested after police officers have raided a bootleg alcohol workshop in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district that was allegedly producing thousands of bottles of illicit alcohol.

The children, 11-year-old V.G., 17-year-old C.Y, 16-year-old E.B. and 17-year-old R.K., were all detained in the weekend raid and sent to the Bağcılar Police Department’s Children’s Bureau. Officers failed to locate the shop’s owner but have begun examining security camera records in the neighborhood in an effort to identify the suspect.

Police confiscated 1,910 bottles of bootleg alcohol during the raid, in addition to empty liquor bottles, a bottle cork capping machine and many alcohol banderols.

During questioning, the minors said they were playing video games at a local Internet café when a man came in and offered them work for 20 Turkish liras. Accepting the offer, the children allegedly headed to the shop with the man and began working in the operation.

An Istanbul court arrested three of the minors after questioning.

Criminal checks also revealed that R.K. had previously been involved in similar activity.

The 1,910 bottles of various alcoholic beverage brands were seized and sent to the Bağcılar Yüzüncü Yıl Police Station.