ILLCIT AND COUNTERFEIT BEVERAGES RAIDED OFF THE STREETS AT PARYS

Members of Parys SAPS, together with Ngwathe Municipality Bi-Law Officer, DESTEA (Consumer Protection Unit) and Milestone Beverages, raided an outlet in Kort Street, Parys on Thursday 11 May.

According to SAPS spokesperson, captain Loraine Earle, the operation was initiated after the members received intelligence-driven information on the sale of illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the precinct. Upon further investigation, the team succeeded and confiscated various bottles of illicit alcohol estimated to be worth thousands of rands that belonged to their brands and were being sold at the alleged liquor outlet.

A 46-year-old woman, alleged to be the owner of the liquor outlet, was issued with a R2 000 fine under the Counterfeit Goods Act No. 37 of 1997 Section 2 (1)(a).

Fezile Dabi District Commissioner, Major General Moses Makubo, strongly condemns these illegal acts practiced by liquor traders and encourages consumers to be extra vigilant about what they buy. “Compliance operations and awareness campaigns will be conducted throughout the district regularly so we continue to protect our community members from consuming counterfeit alcohol, which may endanger their lives,” concluded Maj Gen Makubo.