A 29-year-old suspect is in custody after a major joint operation on Tuesday uncovered an illegal operation manufacturing and selling prohibited liquor in Umlazi.
The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort by multiple units, including the Hawks from Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation, KwaZulu-Natal Counter Narcotics, the Durban Metro Drug Team, and the SAPS Infrastructure Task Team.
Acting on intelligence about a specific tuckshop, the joint team conducted a disruptive operation. Upon arrival, they found the suspect in the act of mixing pure ethanol with water at a 1:1 ratio and bottling the adulterated mixture in 750ml Smirnoff bottles for sale.
A subsequent search of the premises led to the seizure of a substantial quantity of evidence, including:
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A large amount of pure ethanol.
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Numerous empty Smirnoff bottles containing the finished, counterfeit product.
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Old Buck bottle caps.
The total estimated street value of the confiscated items is R73,357.50.
Following his arrest on charges of illegal manufacturing and selling of prohibited liquor, the suspect cooperated with authorities. He led the team to a house on Magalela Drive, where investigators discovered 250-litre empty blue chemical containers, believed to be part of the illicit operation.
The suspect is scheduled to make his first appearance at the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 12 November 2025.
