Six face trial over illicit alcohol production in Plungė district

Six people will stand trial for allegedly producing and storing homemade spirits for sale in Plungė district, LRT reported, citing prosecutors. The case has been sent to the Plungė chambers of the Klaipėda District Court.

During the pre-trial investigation, officers carried out 11 searches at different homesteads and farm buildings in the district. They seized more than two tonnes of homemade vodka, equipment used to produce it, containers holding thousands of litres of fermented mash and other items.

Three people have been charged with illegally producing and storing homemade spirits for sale at one of the homesteads. Investigators found 2,685 litres of mash fermenting in 15 containers there. One defendant said that, during a certain period, vodka was produced up to five days a week, with about 180 to 190 litres made per day.

Three others are accused of producing and storing homemade spirits as part of a group at another homestead in the district. Officers found about 396 litres of finished spirits and a further 2,310 litres of mash in 16 containers.

The investigation also found that in May 2025, when police arrived at one of the homesteads to carry out procedural actions, one defendant told another to pour out vodka stored in the basement. A fire broke out and an explosion followed, injuring a police officer. The officer suffered minor health impairment.

Two people have also been charged over the destruction or damage of property by a generally dangerous means that could have, and did, injure a person.

The investigation initially also examined the possible disposal of organic waste left over from the production of homemade vodka. Waste was found on several plots of land and in a natural marsh in Plungė district. Environmental officials assessed the damage at more than 36,000 euros, but later determined that the waste had decomposed, the environment had naturally recovered and no long-term negative effects had been identified. This part of the investigation was discontinued because there was insufficient evidence of significant environmental damage.

A separate investigation involving another person was completed earlier. The person was charged with acquiring and storing a large quantity of homemade vodka with the intention of selling some of it. Investigators found that 400 litres had been hidden in a forest. After the person admitted guilt, the case was concluded by a court penal order.