A joint SARS and SAPS operation targeting illicit alcohol trade uncovered a consignment of high-strength ethanol allegedly diverted to an unlicensed facility in Gauteng, as authorities intensify enforcement efforts.
SARS and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have seized a consignment of 26,000 litres of high-strength ethanol at an unlicensed Kempton Park warehouse, with the shipment estimated to have attracted about R9.1 million in duties and taxes.
The South African Revenue Service said the operation was conducted on Wednesday, 29 July, by SARS officials working with SAPS Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Serious Commercial Crime Investigations as part of an intensified crackdown on the illicit economy.
The consignment, which contained imported ethanol with an alcohol content of approximately 96%, had been declared in transit to another country further north in Africa and was supposed to have been cleared through a South African port of exit.
SARS said the shipment was instead discovered being offloaded at an unlicensed and unregistered facility in Kempton Park, where it was being transferred into 1,000-litre flow-bins.
