Whistleblower exposes illegal alcohol factory in Faure
A whistleblower's tip leads to the shutdown of an illegal alcohol factory in Faure, resulting in multiple arrests and the confiscation of illicit liquor.
Image: saps
A whistleblower has given insight into how he alerted authorities about an illegal alcohol factory operating on a farm in Faure where five Malawian nationals were arrested including a second location in Woodstock where a Chinese national was busted.
The whistle blower who cannot be identified for safety reasons said he became suspicious when he inquired about the price of a bottle of wine and raised the alarm.
“I was at the premises and I wanted to take a picture of what they were doing and they said it was not allowed,” he explained.
Authorities crack down on illegal alcohol production in Faure and Woodstock.
Image: saps
“So I asked them what is the price for a bottle of VAT 69 and they said it's R130.
“I couldn't believe it, as the normal price is R290.
“They were also selling a box of 12 bottles of wine for R1560 and that is not the normal price.
“I've asked around on the farm if they are aware of this illegal alcohol plant and they told me yes but they are afraid to talk about it."
Police spokesperson, Captain Frederick Van Wyk said their teams were responding to a tip off when they visited the farm on October 2 and managed to confiscate a large quantity of illegal alcohol and made arrests.
“On October 2, members of Operation Shanela II in the Western Cape followed up information about a facility illegally manufacturing and distributing alcohol,” Van Wyk explained.
“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.”
A whistleblower's tip leads to the shutdown of an illegal alcohol factory in Faure, resulting in multiple arrests and the confiscation of illicit liquor.
Image: saps
Van Wyk added that the equipment used in the production of counterfeit or unregulated liquor was discovered, including plastic containers filled with chemicals, hundreds of empty and pre-filled liquor bottles, industrial-grade bottling and capping machinery and boxes.
Van Wyk said they went further afield to Woodstock where more arrests were made in the manufacturing of illegal alcohol and detained a Chinese national.
“The five Malawian suspects are expected to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on charges related to the contravention of the Liquor Act. The Chinese suspect will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on similar charges,” he stated.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Adv.)Thembisile Patekile has commended the teams.
He said that this confiscation was in line with the provincial policing approach to close down illegal manufacturing of liquor and also the distribution of liquor outlets also known as shebeens.
"These operations will be sustained in an effort to eradicate alcohol abuse which remains one of the contributing factors to serious and violent crimes, especially over weekends,"Patekile said.
The whistleblower said he was now seeking compensation.
“Without my report, the illegal alcohol plant could have continued to operate, potentially causing harm to the community and depriving the government of revenue," he said.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus