A MAN has been jailed for a year after 11,000 litres of alcohol were seized by customs officers in Radcliffe.

Thousands of bottles of whisky, vodka and gin will now be poured down the drain by customs officials.

Customs and Excise officials pounced on Ashok Blaggan who was unloading containers full of illegal alcohol on a Radcliffe trading estate.

Officer found pallet loads of whisky, vodka and gin in the containers and £1,200 in cash in one of two Transit vans which were also confiscated.

All of the alcohol was destined for the black market and no excise duty had been paid on any of the 11,000 litres seized.

Customs officers estimated that Blaggan benefited by £82,000 by avoiding paying excise duty on the alcohol.

Blaggan, aged 30, of Mainwood Square, Chorlton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

He admitted being knowingly being concerned in keeping dutiable goods with intent to defraud.

Paul O'Brien, prosecuting on behalf of Customs and Excise, said officers watched Blaggan and another man unloading cases of whisky, vodka and gin into two Transit vans at Bealey Industrial Estate, Dumars Lane, Radcliffe.

Officers seized 11,046 litres of spirits, including 7,560 litres of vodka, 3,150 litres of whisky and 336 litres of gin. Duty payable was £82,562.69.

Judge William Morris said it had been Blaggan's intention to sell the drink illegally at a considerable profit.

He had acted despite a previous warning and the courts had to set an example to deter others from doing the same. When they pounced the customs officers found pallet loads of Loch More whisky, Vodka Lenska and Gin Lord. There were four containers at the site with several hundred cases of assorted spirits partially unloaded. When arrested Blaggan admitted he knew what he was doing was an offence. and was jailed for 12 months