Two underground workshops that made fake Moutai, Wuliangye and other famous liquors were shut down by Beijing law enforcement officials, Beijing Times reported today.

Beijing police already detained three suspects involved in the 1.6-million-yuan (US$242,886) case after being tipped off by local residents that someone was selling bogus liquors in a freight depot in the capital's Fengtai District last month. Police raided the depot on December 16 and seized two suspects and their tools for forging labels.

On December 23, Beijing police located another workshop, also in Fengtai District, detained one suspect and seized more than 500 bottles of fake liquors valued over 500,000 yuan and a large amount of fake labels.

The suspects allegedly admitted to buying liquor bottles of well-known brands from restaurants and hotels. Police said some restaurant staff sold bottles and original packaging to the suspects for money.

Police advised customers to break the bottles after they are empty to prevent them from being used by fake producers.