A Turkish man has been accused of running a fake Zamzam water operation, reportedly making millions of lira from the scheme. Preliminary investigations revealed that within five months, the operation earned nearly 90 million Lira (about $2.5 million).
Authorities identified the suspect as Bilal, who confessed to managing a facility in Adana, southern Turkey. He admitted that much of the Zamzam water sold in cities like Istanbul was supplied from his warehouse.
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The facility was producing around 20 tons of counterfeit Zamzam water daily, generating approximately 600,000 Lira ($22,000) each day.
During a raid, officials discovered 15,000 liters of tap water packaged in bottles with fake labels designed to look authentic, featuring Arabic text and references to Saudi Arabia to deceive buyers.
Bilal claimed he mixed small amounts of real Zamzam water, brought from Saudi Arabia, with tap water. He also stated that no customers had complained before authorities intervened.
The counterfeit water has been seized and will be destroyed. Authorities have shut down the facility and are investigating others involved. The full scope of the fake product’s distribution remains uncertain, though Zamzam water is in high demand in Turkey, especially during Ramadan.
