EU raids energy drinks firm in antitrust probe

EU antitrust investigators raided a company making energy drinks over suspicions it abused its dominance in the wildly popular market, the European Commission said Tuesday.

The EU's executive arm said its teams carried out unannounced inspections Monday "at the premises of a company active in the energy drinks sector in various member states".

It did not provide the name of the company nor say in which countries investigators -- joined by competition authorities of each member state affected -- had conducted raids.

The commission, the 27-country bloc's powerful antitrust authority, is probing allegations the company violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices.

If the company raided is guilty of antitrust violations, it risks large fines but can be granted immunity if it cooperates with the commission.