By Thys Khiba – Free State Police have arrested a 27-year-old business owner who was in possession of liquor suspected to be counterfeit valued at about R1 million rand and illicit cigarettes on Friday,24 March 2023 at about 11:00.
“On 24 March 2023, an intelligence led and multi- disciplinary operation spearheaded by the Free State Provincial Organised Crime Unit in conjunction with Crime Intelligence, Provincial Tracing Team, Tactical Response Team, Cyber Crime, Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) and South African Revenue Service (Customs) SARS, led the team to East End Industrial park in Bloemfontein where liquor suspected to be counterfeit valued at about R1 million rand and illicit cigarettes were discovered at a liquor distributor,” said Free State Police spokesperson, Sgt Mahlomola Kareli.
— FS DESTEA (@FSDESTEA) March 24, 2023
The arrested suspect is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate court soon on charges of fraud, contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, contravention of the Immigration Act and other related contraventions.
Meanwhile, the MEC for department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) Thabo Meeko commended the team for the arrest and sent stem warnings to illicit alcohol traders.
The MEC for department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), Thabo Meeko
“Clearly, if we bring all expertise to work together as a collective, we can achieve more. This is a promising journey proving that we can reclaim our economy, reconstruct, and restore it to the people of Free State,” said Meeko.
CENTRAL NEWS
—————————————————————
DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0814955487