SAPS Busts Major Illicit Alcohol Syndicate in Western Cape — Six Arrested in Operation Shanela II

Stellenbosch, Western Cape – October 3, 2025

In a major breakthrough against South Africa’s growing illicit alcohol trade, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has dismantled a multi-million-rand counterfeit liquor syndicate operating across the Western Cape.
Six suspects were arrested, and large quantities of fake alcohol and industrial-grade equipment were confiscated during a series of coordinated raids under #OperationShanela II.

Inside the Operation: From Farm to City Warehouse

Acting on precise intelligence, SAPS members raided a farm in Faure, Stellenbosch, uncovering a fully operational clandestine distillery. Inside, officers found a sophisticated setup capable of large-scale production.

Police seized:

• Containers filled with unknown chemical substances
• Hundreds of empty and pre-filled liquor bottles
• Industrial bottling and capping machinery
• Labels and packaging material used for counterfeit brands

Five Malawian nationals, aged between 26 and 45, were arrested on-site.

Following leads from the first bust, police expanded the operation to Woodstock, Cape Town, where they discovered a storage facility used to house and distribute pre-packaged counterfeit alcohol.
A 53-year-old Chinese national was arrested, and a substantial stockpile of illegal liquor ready for market distribution was seized.

Cracking Down on Crime Drivers

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile applauded the successful operation, emphasizing its role in curbing violent crime linked to alcohol abuse.

“The confiscation aligns with our strategy to close down illegal liquor manufacturing and distribution networks,” Lt Gen Patekile said.
“Alcohol abuse remains a major contributor to serious and violent crimes, particularly over weekends. These operations will continue as part of our broader effort to restore safety and order.”

The coordinated raids are part of SAPS’s broader crime prevention framework, targeting industries that not only harm public health but also fuel organized crime, tax evasion, and violence in communities.

READ: R21 Million dagga Drug Bust: Johannesburg's MMC Tshwaku Leads Major Strike Against Syndicates in Sandton |

Court Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations

The five Malawian suspects will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court, while the Chinese national is set to face charges in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
All six individuals face charges related to the contravention of the Liquor Act and are expected to face additional counts as investigations progress.

SAPS has confirmed that forensic analysis of the confiscated liquor and chemicals is underway to determine potential health risks posed by the counterfeit products.

READ: SAPS Operation Shanela II: Over 15,000 Arrested in Nationwide Police Crackdown |

A Step Toward Safer Communities

This successful operation underlines SAPS’s renewed commitment to dismantling the economic backbone of organized criminal networks.
By striking at production hubs rather than just street-level distribution, authorities aim to cut off supply chains at their source—a move seen as essential to restoring community safety across the province.