Authorities in Sochi have seized over 40,000 liters of unlawful alcoholic beverages.
Since the beginning of 2025, Sochi City Police and the Russian Guard (Rosgvardia) have been actively addressing a significant public safety issue - the illegal trading of alcohol. This clandestine market has seen the circulation of surrogate and artisanal alcoholic beverages that do not meet safety standards.
In an effort to curb this issue, authorities have conducted numerous raids and arrests targeting illicit producers and sellers. One notable case involved the arrest of two women at the Kazachy market for selling artisanal alcohol under the guise of homemade beverages. They were charged under Part 3 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code for producing and selling unsafe goods, with one suspect having a prior conviction for a similar offense.
Raids along the Sochi coast have targeted markets, seizing illicit alcoholic drinks for forensic examination. This indicates a wider pattern of illegal trading happening beyond single cases. In one instance, 161 liters of illicit alcohol including homemade chacha, wine, and cognac were found in a vehicle driven by a 55-year-old native of Abkhazia and sent for investigation.
The illegal alcohol has caused methanol poisonings resulting in fatalities, as confirmed by toxicological findings linking the deaths to methanol-contaminated illicit alcohol. Tourists and locals have been warned about the dangers of fake alcohol.
Notable raids and enforcement actions include the dismantling of a network in the Lazarevsky district, resulting in the seizure of approximately 12 tons of wine, cha-cha, and cognac of unknown origin.
The resort administration is actively working to combat illegal trading activities in Sochi. Operations against tobacco and other products, in addition to alcohol, are being conducted. Administrative staff and police conduct regular raids in all resort areas, targeting both small private vendors and large commercial outlets.
Since the beginning of 2025, over 360 instances of illegal alcohol trading have been intercepted in Sochi. Authorities emphasise community cooperation, with legal experts advising the public to report illegal alcohol sellers to law enforcement. Sellers face fines up to 500,000 rubles and possible criminal charges.
The fight against the illegal alcohol trade in Sochi continues, with enforcement efforts resulting in arrests, seizures, and ongoing investigations in response to deadly methanol poisonings linked to this illicit market.
- The Russian authorities have expanded their investigation beyond the illegal trading of alcohol, targeting illicit tobacco products as well in the resolve to uphold health-and-wellness and general-news standards in Sochi.
- In a wider scope of crime-and-justice implications, the illicit alcohol trade in Sochi is not only a public safety issue but also a matter of life-threatening health concerns, as the toxic alcohol has caused fatalities through methanol poisonings.
