A 35-year-old South African citizen originally from Portugal has been arrested months after police uncovered an alleged illegal alcohol manufacturing operation in Ogies, North West.

Witbank News reports that Anthony De Canha Franca, the registered lessee of the property where the operation was allegedly being conducted, was arrested yesterday (November 11) after investigators linked him to the premises through evidence gathered during an ongoing Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) investigation.

The arrest stems from a raid conducted at a plot on June 27, during which police and members of the Middelburg Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit uncovered what authorities described as an illegal alcohol manufacturing facility.

During the operation, law enforcement officials seized four 1 000-litre drums containing suspected unlabelled alcohol, as well as brewing equipment, chemicals and packaging materials valued at an estimated R600 000. Six suspects were arrested and charged with contraventions of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964 and the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

According to the Hawks, although initial reports indicated seven people had been arrested, Franca was not found on the scene during the raid. Further investigations later revealed he was the registered lessee of the property where the alleged illicit operation was being run.

Investigators continued pursuing leads over the following months before tracing and arresting him.

Alleged lessee granted bail

Franca appeared in Ogies Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail of R3 000. He is expected to reappear alongside his six co-accused on November 27.

Three of the accused – Jostino Kumbani (25), Heno Kumbani (19) and Nelson Makwakwa (22), all Mozambican nationals – remain in custody. The remaining accused – Destin Dumuza (22), a Malawian national; Cedric Helengwa (31), a Zimbabwean national; and Cedric Helengwa (22), a Malawian national – were each granted bail of R3 000.

Mpumalanga Hawks acting provincial head Brigadier General Bruce Davenport commended investigators for their persistence in ensuring that all those believed to be involved in the operation have now been brought before the court.

“These arrests demonstrate the determination of law enforcement agencies to dismantle illicit manufacturing networks that place the health and safety of communities at risk while simultaneously undermining the country’s economic and regulatory systems,” Davenport said.

He added that illegal alcohol was not a victimless crime, warning that consumers were often unaware of potentially harmful substances contained in illicit products.

Public health warning issued

Davenport said the Hawks remain resolute in pursuing every lead to ensure accountability and to disrupt criminal activities that threaten public safety.

The Hawks warned that illegally manufactured alcohol often bypasses quality-control measures and regulatory requirements, and may contain dangerous substances capable of causing severe illness, organ damage, blindness and death.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activities involving the production, storage or sale of alcohol from unlicensed premises on the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111 or at their nearest police station.

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