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[CRIME] · France · 3 sources

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French authorities seize €1.8 million in Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine fraud

Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine fraud Occitanie asset seizure AOP fraud

French authorities have seized more than €1.8 million in criminal assets following a wine fraud investigation involving the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. A producer-merchant based in the Occitanie region is accused of concealing 679 hectolitres of wine from control agencies between 2020 and 2022.

The suspect allegedly sold these harvests under the false Châteauneuf-du-Pape label, despite the vineyards for this designation being located in the Vaucluse department. By misrepresenting the wine, the perpetrator was able to charge prices approximately 14 times higher than the actual value of the product.

The seized assets include a chalet in Megève valued at €1.6 million and financial investments exceeding €220,000. Investigators noted that the illicit proceeds funded a high-end lifestyle, including the purchase of a luxury vehicle and a competition show jumping horse. The case is expected to be heard by the judicial court of Béziers.

Entities

Béziers Judicial Court · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Dreets Occitanie · Megève · Pézenas Gendarmerie

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

679 hectolitres de vin maquillés, un chalet à 1,6 million d’euros saisi [lesinguliersete.fr]
Fraude à l'AOP Châteauneuf-du-Pape: 1,8 million d'euros d'avoirs criminels saisis [www.notretemps.com]
fraude Châteauneuf-du-Pape : 1,8 million d'euros saisis [www.sudradio.fr]