Ethanol mixed with water was allegedly bottled as Smirnoff at an illegal liquor manufacturing site in Linda Mnomiya in Umlazi, south of Durban.
Durban metro police spokesperson Col Boysie Zungu said an intelligence-driven operation led officers to the site on Tuesday.
“The operation revealed individuals were allegedly mixing ethanol with water and bottling it as Smirnoff for sale to the public. Upon arrival at the premises, officers caught the main target in the act of mixing the components used to manufacture counterfeit liquor,” he said.
Police seized five 25l containers of pure ethanol, four 5l containers, also of ethanol, six 750ml bottles of diluted ethanol falsely branded as Smirnoff, seven empty Smirnoff bottles, bottle caps and other packaging material, and equipment used for manufacturing and distribution.
Zungu said the estimated value of the seized items was R73,200.
“The Durban metro police drug team, together with Counter Narcotics KZN, [the Hawks] Port Shepstone, and the SAPS economic infrastructure task team, dismantled the operation. Well done to all units involved for their excellent teamwork and commitment in removing illegal and harmful substances from our communities,” he said.
TimesLIVE
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