BRUSSELS, March 26 (Reuters) - Coca Cola bottlers were

raided by EU antitrust regulators earlier this month, a person

with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The European Commission announced the raids on non-alcoholic

drinks companies in several EU countries on March 10 but did not

name them. It cited concerns about possible curbs on the trade

of goods across Europe and carving up markets, both illegal

under EU rules against cartels and abuse of market power.

The raids targeted Coca Cola bottlers, the person said,

declining to provide details because of the sensitivity of the

matter.

The Commission declined to comment.

The Coca Cola Co ( KO ) and bottler Coca Cola HBC ( CCHBF ) in

which the former holds a 21% stake, did not respond to repeated

emailed requests for comment.

The EU competition enforcer had in 2023 scrapped an

investigation into potential anti-competitive practices by The

Coca-Cola Co ( KO ) and its bottlers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

and Coca-Cola Hellenic due to insufficient grounds for the case.

Companies risk fines as much as 10% of their global annual

revenues if found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules.

Bloomberg first reported the raids on Coca Cola's business.