THOUSANDS of bottles of whisky, vodka and gin seized in a raid on a trading estate will be poured down the drain by Customs and Excise officials.

They pounced on Ashok Blaggan as he was unloading containers full of illegal alcohol at Bealey industrial estate in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, a court heard.

Officers found pallet loads of whisky, vodka and gin, plus £1,200, in cash in one of two vans which were also confiscated.

The 11,000 litres of alcohol was destined for the black market. Customs officers said Blaggan benefited by £82,000 by avoiding paying excise duty.

The court was told that it was government policy not to re-sell seized alcohol so it will be destroyed, probably by being poured down the drain.

Blaggan (30), of Mainwood Square, Chorlton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence on Wednesday after he admitted being knowingly concerned in keeping duty-payable goods with intent to defraud and was jailed for 12 months.

Paul O'Brien, prosecuting on behalf of Customs and Excise, described how officers watched Blaggan and another man unloading cases of whisky, vodka and gin into two vans at the estate. When arrested Blaggan admitted he knew what he was doing was an offence.

Officers seized 11,046 litres of spirits, including 7,560 litres of vodka, 3,150 litres of whisky and 336 litres of gin. The duty payable was £82,562.69.

Blaggan had also been caught with hundreds of litres of beer, wine and spirits in 1998 and although he wasn't prosecuted the alcohol had been confiscated.

Defending, Ian McMeekin said that Blaggan used to run a shop selling alcohol but had been assaulted and had suffered ill-health since the attack and only worked sporadically in his sister's business.

Judge William Morris said it had been Blaggan's intention to sell the drink illegally at a considerable profit and the courts had to set an example to deter others from doing the same.