CRIME SCENE: Gugulethu, Cape Town: The South African Police Service (SAPS) dealt the illegal liquor trade a heavy blow when they uncovered an illicit manufacturing facility here.

According to SAPS an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Gugulethu Crime Prevention Unit on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, led to the discovery of the facility, which resulted in five arrests at NY108, Gugulethu.

“The police operationalised information they received and when they arrived at the address, they found four men and a woman inside the residence. The members conducted a search in the house. They discovered small containers, labels, sealed boxes containing liquor bottles, and equipment used in the making and packaging of liquor.

“Large containers with mixed chemicals, which are used in the production process, were also discovered,” said SAPS.

The five suspects, aged between 19 and 50, face charges of manufacturing illicit liquor.

Valhalla Park: Police attached to Operation Lockdown 3 arrested two men, aged 45 and 55-years, for possession of drugs during stop-and-search operations.

They pulled over a suspicious-looking car, and one of the suspects inside the vehicle threw out a plastic bag, which the police later discovered contained 92 Mandrax tablets.