Supplied: SARS
Authorities have seized R15 million rand's worth of duty-free alcohol which was being recycled back into the local market.
SARS said in a statement that more than 12 700 cases of duty-free liquor were found at a warehouse in Mpumalanga and seized following a year-long investigation.
The raids were carried out recently by SARS Customs officers and police.
During the raid, they also found equipment to alter the original products, including changing the labelling on the bottles.
SARS said in some cases, the smugglers would replace the caps of bottles and remove the lot codes from the boxes.
Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the smugglers of the illicit liquor were harming the local industry at a time when Covid was already restricting trade.
The investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made.
