Officials in the Krasnokamensk region said Sunday they believe the alcohol may have been imported from China, around hour’s drive from the village. The federal Investigative Committee said a 49-year-old resident of the village, Krasny Velikan, has been detained on suspicion of selling the liquor.
Russia has for years battled in vain to combat a lucrative trade in counterfeit alcohol, much of which is now carried out online.
The official minimum price for a half-liter of vodka was raised earlier this month to 199 rubles ($5.40), a move that experts worry could lead to a spike in the consumption of moonshine.