NJ Still Has Bootleggers?

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has announced this morning that two men have been charged in connection with a scheme to sell the illicit alcoholic beverage, Extracto de Malta, to unlicensed retail shops throughout the state. Extracto de Malta has an alcohol by volume content of 3.5 to 4 percent or the equivalent of a light beer.

The ABC accuses Condal Distributors Inc., of Bronx, NY of selling Extracto de Malta to small retail food and drink shops, also known as bodegas, throughout the state, with many clients concentrated in Hispanic communities in northern New Jersey. Investigators found the drink in at least 15 supermarkets and bodegas in Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Bridgewater, Garfield, North Bergen and as far south as Pennsauken.

Nelson Fernandez, of Bloomfield, is the owner of Condal and is charged with selling an alcoholic beverage without a license. Elbio Fanas, of Yonkers, N.Y., was working as a salesman for Condal when ABC Investigators arrested him in Elizabeth for soliciting the sale of alcohol without a license and selling an alcoholic beverage without a license. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be brought as it proceeds.

“It is imperative that we get this unlawful alcoholic beverage off the shelves immediately,” says State Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa. “It appears that Condal has tried to sidestep and circumvent the safeguards we have that protect the public. This drink is allegedly being sold at shops that can sell almost anything except alcohol, so the thought of carding someone never crosses anyone’s mind. There are many potential dangers here, most notably Extracto de Malta getting into the hands of unknowing children.”

At all the establishments visited by the Division, Extracto de Malta was stocked on shelves among soft drinks and specifically placed next to the soft drink Malta. Malta is a carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage brewed from barley, malt and hops. Malta is popular in Hispanic communities and is distributed by many companies, including Goya.

The ABC is allowing a 10-day period for all stores to get the beverage off their shelves. Extracto de Malta must be removed by September 1 or retailers can face fines of up to $1,000 and/or a maximum jail term of three years for selling alcohol without a license.