A Turkish man has been accused of running a counterfeit Zamzam water operation, allegedly earning millions of lira through the scheme. In just five months, preliminary investigations revealed the operation generated nearly 90 million Lira (around $2.5 million).
Authorities identified the suspect as Bilal, who admitted to operating a facility in Adana, southern Turkey. He confessed that much of the Zamzam water sold in cities like Istanbul originated from his warehouse.
Officials discovered the operation produced approximately 20 tons of fake Zamzam water daily, earning an estimated 600,000 Lira ($22,000) daily.
During a raid on the facility, 15,000 liters of tap water were packaged in bottles and containers bearing fraudulent labels. These labels, designed to appear authentic, included Arabic text and references to Saudi Arabia, misleading consumers into believing the water was genuine.
Bilal claimed he had been mixing small quantities of real Zamzam water, sourced from vehicles traveling from Saudi Arabia, with ordinary tap water. He argued that no customers had lodged complaints before the authorities intervened.
The fake water has been confiscated and will be destroyed. Officials have shut down the facility and are investigating others connected to the operation. The full extent of the counterfeit product’s distribution is unclear, though demand for Zamzam water remains high in Turkey, particularly during Ramadan.