Russian Smugglers Build Vodka Pipeline

by Jon Azpiri | September 17, 2008 at 12:18 pm

2094 views | 18 Recommendations | 28 comments

A group of enterprising smugglers have been accused of creating a pipeline to transport one of Russia's great natural resources: vodka. A group of 11 Russians and Estonians face several years of jail time after building a 2-kilometre long pipeline located in a reservoir near the Estonian border town of Narva.

'It might sound weird and unbelievable but it's a very real criminal case,' said prosecution spokesman Mari Luuk.

The pipeline was discovered after customs officers in the Estonian capital Tallinn seized 1,159 litres of vodka which they allege came through it. Vodka is a third cheaper in Russia than Estonia.

Four Russian men are the alleged ring leaders.

According to prosecutors, the men had pumped at least 6,200 litres of illegal spirit to Estonia, avoiding paying £46,000 in excise duty.

155

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Jordan Yerman

at 12:20 on September 17th, 2008

Actually, yes, it does sound weird and unbelievable! My main concern would be keeping the pipeline free of contaminants, but chances are they weren't thinking of that.

Emilio Lizardo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:25 on September 17th, 2008

What's so weird about it ?

Peolple love to drink !

Especilly Russians - they need it !!

Almost as much as the Americans.

SOLARLIFE

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:32 on September 17th, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff. cheers

khrapovs

at 13:49 on September 17th, 2008

khrapovs has contributed a photo to this story.

ANTONIO_DM

at 15:14 on September 17th, 2008

I liked the story. It sounds so unbelievable! Well done!

ANTONIO_DM

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:15 on September 17th, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff.

pinodesign ®

at 15:47 on September 17th, 2008

Absolut Lover... i have a colection of many empty (drank) bottles!! love it thanx to nowpublic

visit my photostream www.flickr.com/photos/pinodesign

pinodesign ® has contributed a photo to this story.

aleszev

at 20:37 on September 17th, 2008

I've made it with photoshop, if you use it for something, credit me

aleszev has contributed a photo to this story.

Monica_F

at 20:45 on September 17th, 2008

it was really fun doing this photo i almost burn the studio down .

Monica_F has contributed a photo to this story.

shweoo

at 21:38 on September 17th, 2008

Amazing...

1,159 litres means.... 1159 bottles!! at the time of getting caught!The photo was one of the experiment shot of my (then) newly bought Canon EOS400D.Color Graded with Lightroom.

Comment welcome! and feel free to visit my flickr!

Thanks.

Aung Shwe Oo

masgun

at 22:24 on September 17th, 2008

this is the result i got, using a candle as the background

masgun has contributed a photo to this story.

J.Black.

at 22:49 on September 17th, 2008

You guys wanna try some Vodka? :D

J.Black. has contributed a photo to this story.

RooozbeH

at 23:04 on September 17th, 2008

Oh God ! i Hope there would be a pipeline from russia to Iran .. I'm paying 50$ a bottle for smirnoff or absolut here on the black market !! hard times to drink people !!!

Daniel Perini

at 02:27 on September 18th, 2008

Daniel Perini has contributed a photo to this story.

Rafa Taro

at 03:15 on September 18th, 2008

Rafa Taro has contributed a photo to this story.

dvs-one

at 04:51 on September 18th, 2008

Its' Absolut(ly) unbelievable.
Vodka FTW!

dvs-one has contributed a photo to this story.

alitow

at 05:27 on September 18th, 2008

I found very cool that the whole bottle ligthened up when I put a blue light from below, that I just had to take the picture. The name of the picture is "ABSOLUT RADIATION" because of the glow of the bottle.

alitow has contributed a photo to this story.

Blue_Penguin

at 06:04 on September 18th, 2008

Absolut Pears, photographed in a field of daisies, Golden, BC, Canada.

Blue_Penguin has contributed a photo to this story.

Márcio Anderson

at 06:42 on September 18th, 2008

Thank you for posting my photo. The Absolut vodka is one of the best drinks that have already taken. Your smuggling is unfair for bringing the evils factory and the development of this great beverage.

ozzymeister

at 07:43 on September 18th, 2008

Hey! Stop hoarding the Vodka!
It's a good thing they caught the criminals on time.
By the way, after the incident, what happened to the 1,159 Liters of "white spirit" ?

ozzymeister has contributed a photo to this story.

greekhehe

at 02:39 on September 20th, 2008

greekhehe has contributed a photo to this story.

Joakim Slettemeaas

at 12:53 on September 21st, 2008

Joakim Slettemeaas has contributed a photo to this story.

T o r o n j a _

at 19:49 on September 23rd, 2008

Una gráfica que hice para un tp de la facultad.
Estudio publicidad.
Para contactarme: maradiloreto@gmail.com

T o r o n j a _ has contributed a photo to this story.

duo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:06 on September 23rd, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I love this story. It's such a hoot!

Mary

Milieunet

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:24 on September 24th, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Yep, Russians do everything for Vodka. It seems to me they need it someway.

club2death-mily

at 07:37 on October 2nd, 2008

JeffHuang asked for my photo :)
for the russian smuggling vodka thing
and he needed a collection of photos
so yeah he wanted it
so i shared it with him :) x

club2death-mily has contributed a photo to this story.