Police smash mile-long VODKA pipeline running from Russia into Europe

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Officials in the former Soviet state, now an EU member, revealed details of their four-year investigation into the illicit supply channel.

Eleven suspects have been charged over the one-mile pipe, submerged in a reservoir near the town of Narva, which pumped the alcohol across the border.

Vodka plot: The pipeline was allegedly used to pump illegal booze to the Estonian city of Narva, above

Connection: Vodka is a third more expensive in Estonia

They face five years in prison if convicted. Complex negotiations with Russia resulted in lengthy delays in bringing charges.

'It might sound weird and unbelievable but it's a very real criminal case,' said prosecution spokesman Mari Luuk.

The pipeline was discovered after customs officers in the Estonian capital Tallinn seized 1,159 litres of vodka which they allege came through it. Vodka is a third cheaper in Russia than Estonia.

Four Russian men are the alleged ring leaders.

According to prosecutors, the men had pumped at least 6,200 litres of illegal spirit to Estonia, avoiding paying £46,000 in excise duty.

Price war: An elderly woman sells vodka in Moscow. The spirit is one third cheaper in Russia

Ms Luuk said: 'The investigation also revealed that the men had tried to sell some of the alcohol in Tallinn in early November 2004, but the quality of the spirit was too bad and no buyers were found.

'They then transported their cargo back to Narva and later managed to sell it in Tartu, the second-largest town in Estonia.

A similar vodka pipeline between Russia and Estonia was discovered in the Narva River by Estonian border guards in 2006.

'That time the pipeline was discovered before it was in use,' Ms. Luuk added.