11 arrested as police seize illicit alcohol worth R5m and shut down illegal distillery

Cape Town – Police in Gauteng say they arrested 11 suspects and shut down an illegal distillery during a sting operation in Katlehong on Tuesday.

Ten of the suspects were foreign nationals and were set to be processed by the Department of Home Affairs.

Illicit alcohol with an estimated street value of R5 million was confiscated during the operation, police said in a statement.

According to police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Sello, the operation was conducted by members of the Crime Intelligence, Provincial Investigation Unit, Ekurhuleni Trio Task Team, Katlehong police, DPCI, Immigration Offices and Brand Protectors.

#sapsGP Illicit liqour with an estimated street value of R5 000 000 was discovered and eleven suspects were arrested in Katlehong today 06/09. NPhttps://t.co/NBSR32g8rX pic.twitter.com/dNfnPTQ8on

— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) September 6, 2022

This was after the team received information about a group of people manufacturing illicit alcohol, said Sello.

“During the operation, illicit liqour with an estimated street value of R5 000 000 was discovered and eleven suspects, of which ten are suspected to be foreign nationals were arrested. The suspects will be processed by Department of Home Affairs,” he said.

The suspects were set to be charged with operating an illegal micro distillery, contravening the Liquor Act and unlawful possession of ethanol.