Police uncover illegal alcohol manufacturing facility in Stellenbosch, arrest foreign nationals

Police have found an illegal alcohol manufacturing facility in Stellenbosch, three weeks after uncovering one in Klapmuts.

On Thursday, October 2, members of Operation Shanela II in the Western Cape followed up on 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,” said provincial police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk.

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.

Captain Van Wyk said, 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,” he said.

The five Malawian suspects are expected to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court on charges related to the contravention of the Liquor Act. The Chinese suspect will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court on similar charges.

Western Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, said these operations will be sustained to eradicate alcohol abuse.