Durban metro police shut down an illegal liquor site in Linda Mnomiya, Umlazi, after finding suspects allegedly bottling ethanol and water as Smirnoff.
Metro police spokesperson Col Boysie Zungu said an intelligence-driven operation led officers to the premises on Tuesday.
“The operation revealed individuals were mixing ethanol with water and bottling it as Smirnoff for sale to the public. Officers caught the main suspect in the act of mixing the components used to produce counterfeit liquor,” he said.
Counterfeit Smirnoff worth over R73 000 seized
Police confiscated five 25-litre containers of pure ethanol. Four 5-litre containers, six 750ml bottles of diluted ethanol falsely branded as Smirnoff.
Seven empty Smirnoff bottles, bottle caps, packaging material and other manufacturing equipment.
Zungu estimated the total value of the seized items at R73 200.
Multi-agency operation praised
Zungu said the operation was carried out by the Durban Metro Police drug team in partnership with Counter Narcotics KZN, the Hawks in Port Shepstone and the SAPS Economic Infrastructure Task Team.
Well done to all units involved for their excellent teamwork and commitment to removing illegal and harmful substances from our communities,” he said.
