Illicit drinks factory closed down

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Illicit drinks factory closed down

8:06 CAT | 10 Oct 2016

Folha de Maputo (File photo)

The southern regional directorate of the Mozambican Customs Service has closed down a company in Boane district, about 30 kilometres west of Maputo, which was clandestinely producing alcoholic drinks using raw materials smuggled into the country under false pretences.

According to a report in the latest issue of the Sunday paper “Domingo”, the company, named Fronteira Limitada – Wild Bull, imported ethyl alcohol from a sugar company in Swaziland, using forged documents which indicated that the alcohol was intended for Cervejas de Mocambique (CDM), the country’s main brewing company, and a subsidiary of SAB-Millers.

The order to close down the company was issued on 17 August, and covered the seizure of all the material found on the premises. This included 17 stainless steel tanks of various sizes, 3,460 empty bottles, six water filters, one forklift truck, two compressors, and two filling lines, among other equipment.

Through an anonymous tip-off, Customs became aware that Fronteira was importing ethyl alcohol without paying any of the duties or taxes due. Customs then used a search warrant to raid the company’s premises.

In addition to charging the owners of Fronteira with tax evasion and forging documents, the Customs investigation division has opened an inquiry into whether the premises were also being used for the clandestine manufacture of illicit drugs.

“Considering the history of the company and its unlawful activities, it is very possible that Fronteira was involved in making illegal drugs. The investigations are still under way”, said a source in the investigation division.

The owners of the company, Asif Hakim Adil and his son, Samir Asif Adil, who both carry United States passports, have evaded arrest and are on the run. The immigration authorities have been alerted, so that they can contact their counterparts in other countries.

Source: AIM