Counterfeit Zamzam water operation exposed in Turkey

Turkish authorities discovered a man allegedly involved in selling counterfeit Zamzam water, amassing millions in illicit earnings, according to Turkish media.

Authorities conducted a raid on the facility, where they discovered 15 tons of ordinary tap water packaged in containers falsely labeled as genuine Zamzam water from Saudi Arabia.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the operation, which manufactured and sold fake Zamzam water across Turkey, generated approximately 90 million Turkish lira (around USD 2.5 million).

The suspect, identified as Mehmet Bilal Ç, admitted to law enforcement that he had been running this deceptive scheme for about five months, claiming to have profited nearly USD 2.5 million during this period. During questioning, he disclosed that his operation produced an astonishing 20 tonnes of counterfeit Zamzam water each day, equating to daily earnings of around 600,000 lira (USD 22,000).

Most troubling is Mehmet's admission that a significant portion of the Zamzam water sold in Turkey, including in major cities like Istanbul, originated from his warehouse located in Adana, southern Turkey.

Images from the raid, published by Turkish media, showcased large quantities of both small personal-use bottles and larger household containers, all featuring counterfeit labels designed to mislead consumers. These labels included Arabic text and references to Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the religious significance of Zamzam water for Muslims.

Mehmet contended that he mixed genuine Zamzam water, procured from vehicles arriving from Saudi Arabia, with tap water at his facility. He claimed to have not received any complaints from customers prior to the raid.

In response to the scandal, authorities confiscated the counterfeit water for destruction, sealed the facility, and initiated an investigation into all individuals involved in the operation.

The demand for Zamzam water in Turkey is notably high, particularly during religious occasions like Ramadan, with bottles readily available in markets and stores nationwide.