Unraveling the Mystery: The Case of a Russian Counterfeiter and Fraudulent Burgundy Bottles Filled with Italian Wine

European investigators have dismantled a sophisticated wine counterfeiting ring that allegedly sold over €2 million (approximately $2.12 million) in fake wine. The operation culminated in the arrest of Aleksandr Lugov, a 40-year-old Russian national, at Milan’s Malpensa airport while he was engaged in a transaction with an accomplice. Concurrent raids in France and Italy led to the arrests of five associates.

Lugov, who has several aliases, was already a known figure in the wine counterfeiting scene, having been convicted in Burgundy in 2017 for his involvement in selling counterfeit wines, including prestigious brands like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leroy. Despite receiving a prison sentence and being banned from commercial activities, counterfeit wines featuring both old and new forged bottles re-emerged in the market, pointing towards Lugov’s continued operations.

Lugov’s first encounter with law enforcement arose in 2013 when unusual bottles began surfacing in the market. An extensive investigation led to multiple arrests in France and Italy, ultimately tracing the counterfeit activities back to him. After his conviction, Lugov was sentenced to four years in prison, fined €150,000, and ordered to pay damages totaling €550,000, including a substantial amount to DRC. However, by 2019, new counterfeits had reappeared in Switzerland and Italy, indicating that Lugov resumed his illicit trade, this time selling low-cost Italian wines dressed in labels and packaging of super-premium French varietals.

Collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, French Gendarmes and Italian Carabinieri coordinated raids that resulted in the seizure of thousands of counterfeit labels, packaging materials, and electronics belonging to the suspects. Additionally, luxury assets valued at around €2 million were seized, believed to be linked to the proceeds from the counterfeit operations.

The ongoing investigations involve multiple agencies across Europe, and they aim to fully dismantle Lugov’s elaborate distribution network which allegedly spanned international borders, further complicating the fight against wine counterfeiting.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

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