Liquor-filled candy seized in police raid in Somerton; store owner facing charges

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A grocery store owner is facing charges after the Pennsylvania State Police's Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement raided a business in the Somerton section of Philadelphia for hours on Wednesday.

It began with an undercover operation at the NetCost Market on Bustleton Avenue.
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Customers and employees told Action News that the BLCE was removing boxes containing liquor-filled candy.

Police confirm they seized thousands of candy boxes, some containing chocolate filled with liquor.

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Only Action News cameras captured officers removing boxes and placing them into a police truck.



Investigators were at the store from about 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.



Police say they have arrested 48-year-old Andrey Malkin of Jamison, Pennsylvania.

Malkin, who is the owner of NetCost Markets, is facing a slew of charges including possession or transportation of liquor or alcohol, possession of alcohol, sales of liquor and other related offenses.
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NetCost, which also has locations in New York and New Jersey, is billed as a market for international foods.

Liquor-filled candy is very popular in many European countries around the holidays; but with the liquor laws in Pennsylvania, stores aren't allowed to sell those candies just anywhere.

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