A 50-year old KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) man has been arrested for allegedly manufacturing and selling counterfeit alcohol and breaking lockdown regulations.
The suspect who cannot be named until he appears in court, has been charged with Contravening Disaster Management Act, manufacturing and selling counterfeit alcohol and selling counterfeit liquor during lockdown.
KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said the suspect was caught red handed refilling Smirnoff 1818 bottles during a police operation.
“During this period, we have joined forces with law enforcement agencies and industry role players to clamp down on those flouting the regulations and any law of the country,” Dube-Ncube said.
“Critically, we wish to commend law enforcement officers who arrested a suspect involved in the manufacturing, distribution and selling of counterfeit liquor at Illovu Township, South of Durban.”
The police recovered 196 empty bottles of 750ml Smirnoff 1818, 100 litres of ethanol and a bag full of Smirnoff 1818 closures.