Fake booze factory busted in Kraaifontein
Authorities in Kraaifontein have uncovered a large-scale illegal alcohol manufacturing operation run by foreign nationals during a search for an unlicensed firearm.
Members of the Kraaifontein Crime Intelligence alongside Durbanville SAPS were on the hunt for a person of interest with an unlicensed firearm believed to be in Antelope Street, Uitzicht on Tuesday night around 10.30pm.
Instead of finding the unlicensed firearm, they cracked down on an entire alcohol manufacturing plant and arrested two Congolese nationals aged 23 and 24 years.
While searching the property, authorities found large quantities of alcohol, as well as manufacturing machinery in one of the rooms.
Cases of alcohol were found stacked against the walls and boxes with bottle tops and labels.
Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that the Congolese nationals were arrested and will appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court once they have been charged.
Gwala confirmed: "The members had roped in Durbanville SAPS members to assist in finding a person of interest with an unlicensed firearm, believed to be at the mentioned address.
"On Tuesday January 27 at approximately 10.30 pm, they descended at the premises where they found two Congolese nationals aged 23 and 24.
"While searching, members uncovered large quantities of alcohol as well as manufacturing machinery in one of the rooms. The two males were arrested on the spot for illegal manufacturing of alcohol."
However, this is not the first time fake booze has been found manufactured in a room owned by foreign nationals
In October last year, members of Operation Shanela II in the Western Cape followed up information about a facility illegally manufacturing and distributing alcohol.
The members descended on a farm located in Faure, Stellenbosch, where they uncovered a fully operational illegal alcohol manufacturing facility inside a building on the property.
The operation led to the arrest of five Malawian suspects, aged between 26 and 45, and the seizure of large quantities of illicit alcohol and manufacturing equipment.
Equipment used in the production of counterfeit or unregulated liquor was discovered and includes plastic containers filled with chemicals, hundreds of empty and pre-filled liquor bottles, industrial-grade bottling and capping machinery and boxes.
Upon further investigation the members visited a storage facility in Woodstock, Cape Town, where a Chinese national aged 53 was arrested. A substantial quantity of illegal, pre-packaged alcohol was confiscated at the second location, suspected to be ready for distribution.
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