'Grinch tequila heist': Criminals accused of stealing 19,000 bottles before NC tequila launch

Cyber criminals are accused of stealing 19,000 bottles of tequila, according to Wrightsville Beach-based spirits company Daytoon Distributors.

The company said a logistics team was working with a major trucking company on updates on the shipment coming this week from Mexico to North Carolina. However, the updates turned out to be fake and the driver not real, the company stated in a news release.

“Daytoon is a veteran owned and operated business; we have not yet begun to fight,” said Geoff Losee, who serves as outside counsel for Daytoon. “We’re currently exploring alternative distribution channels to get Chactun Tequila into the hands of our customers as soon as possible.

"There are so many things we are thankful for that these Grinches cannot take: our resilience, creativity, drive and passion for this industry.”

Hacienda Chactun Tequila CEO Mark Milliken said criminals made off with the first runs of the company's reposado tequila.

Daytoon Distributors, which is the company behind Blue Shark Vodka, and the logistics team became suspicious Wednesday of the fictional truck driver’s constant excuses for the shipping delay. The fictional driver even sent photos of traffic and a flat tire. The company believes it was a ruse to buy the criminals time to divert the tequila and take it elsewhere.

While Daytoon and the logistics company believed the shipment was in North Carolina, authorities have now traced its last known whereabouts to Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Authorities in California are still investigating the case, but the tequila seems to have disappeared.

“We plan to still launch in January with our blanco product and begin to meet demands with blanco and reposado by February,” Milliken said. “We want our customers to know this upset will have no effect on pricing.”

An anejo tequila launch is planned for later in 2024.

Daytoon is calling the incident the "Grinch tequila heist."