Johannesburg – A joint operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has uncovered an alleged illegal ethanol storage facility in Kempton Park, Gauteng, where imported alcohol worth millions of rand was being stored.
The raid was carried out on Wednesday, 29 July, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based at its Pretoria headquarters, working alongside SARS officials.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the operation targeted “a premises identified as a storage facility for imported ethanol.”
Police said officers found a consignment of imported ethanol being off-loaded at what they described as “an unlicensed and unregistered facility” into 1,000-litre flow bins.
“The joint team discovered the consignment being off-loaded at an unlicensed and unregistered facility into 1000 litre flow bins,” SAPS said in a statement.
Investigators also uncovered additional storage infrastructure during the raid.
“The police further discovered other flow bins on site and storage tanks,” the statement added.
Authorities have not yet made any arrests, with investigators continuing to probe the operation and determine whether any tax, customs or other commercial crime offences were committed.
“No arrests have been made yet. Investigation is ongoing,” SAPS said.
The value of the seized ethanol has not yet been disclosed, although police described the operation as involving alcohol worth millions of rand.
The Hawks and SARS have not released further details about the ownership of the premises or whether additional suspects have been identified.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
