Police in Western Cape close down illegal liquor manufacturing operation on Faure farm
Western Cape police have shut down a large-scale illegal alcohol manufacturing operation, arresting six suspects and seizing vast quantities of illicit liquor and production equipment during raids in Stellenbosch and Cape Town.
On Thursday, October 2, 2025, members of Operation Shanela II acted on information and descended on a farm in Faure, Stellenbosch. Inside a building on the property, officers uncovered a fully operational illegal liquor facility.
Five Malawian nationals, aged between 26 and 45, were arrested.
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick C. van Wyk says the operation uncovered plastic containers filled with chemicals, hundreds of empty and pre-filled liquor bottles, industrial-grade bottling and capping machinery and boxes.
“Upon further investigation the members visited a storage facility in Woodstock, Cape Town, where a Chinese national, aged 53, was arrested. A substantial quantity of illegal, pre-packaged alcohol was confiscated at the second location, suspected to be ready for distribution,” said van Wyk.
The five Malawian suspects are expected to appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court on charges related to the contravention of the Liquor Act, while the Chinese suspect will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on similar charges.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Adv.) Thembisile Patekile, praised the officers involved in the successful operation.
He said this confiscation was in line with the provincial policing approach to close down illegal manufacturing of liquor and also the distribution of liquor outlets also known as shebeens
He further emphasised the impact of these operations on crime prevention, saying these operations will be sustained in an effort to eradicate alcohol abuse which remains one of the contributing factors to serious and violent crimes, especially over weekends.
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