A 36-year-old business manager was arrested after the police in KwaZulu-Natal cracked down on an illegal liquor manufacturing business in Umhlali. 

R1.5 MILLION WORTH OF COUNTERFEIT ALCOHOL CONFISCATED

According to spokesperson Captain Alex Thomson, law enforcement officials confiscated more than 26,000 sachets of locally branded liquor, over 60 crates of unbranded liquor sachets, numerous boxes of counterfeit alcohol, and five 1,000-litre containers of ethanol used to manufacture the alcohol. "The business, operating from a farm along the secluded R104 road in Umhlali, contained heavy machinery that distilled, mixed, and packaged liquor on the premises,' Thomson said. The truck delivering the ethanol was also seized during the raid.

THE BUSINESS SUPPLIED ALCOHOL TO BUSINESSES IN AFFLUENT BALLITO 

Thomson indicated that the illegal business was supplying alcoholic beverages to various establishments in the affluent town of Ballito, including branded products. "The suspect was arrested and charged with manufacturing and distributing illicit liquor. He will appear in KwaDukuza Magistrates Court soon,' he added. The ILembe District Police Commissioner, Major General Anthony Gopaul, said they are hoping that the impact of the operation will be seen in the reduction of contact crimes and alcohol abuse in the district, which has been very visible in the last year.