Clandestine alcohol factory dismantled in Maputo

A Mozambican Tax Authority (AT) seized more than 300 boxes of rum, supplies and industrial equipment in a building suspected of housing, in the center of Maputo, a clandestine liquor factory, in an operation carried out with police support.

In a statement, the TA states that the operation was carried out on Saturday and led to the seizure of alcoholic beverages, raw materials and packaging material in a building in the neighborhood of Costa do Sol, described as being “suspected of housing a clandestine liquor production factory”.

The operation was carried out by the Tax and Customs Surveillance team of the City of Maputo and the Sealing Division, with the support of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), and led to the seizure of 214 boxes of white rum, 200 milliliters and 40% alcohol content, in addition to 100 boxes and three additional units of rum.

The teams also collected 121 empty bottles, seven boxes of rolls of white rum labels, 15 boxes and 19 units of active alcohol dry yeast, six empty bottles of 500 millilitres and five rolls of 750 millilitre rum labels.

The TA adds that during the operation “two trucks equipped with tanks, machinery and their components for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages” were identified at the site as well as several boxes containing empty bottles.

According to the information disclosed, the equipment and materials remained in the building, while continuing the steps to clarify the nature of the activity carried out on site.

The institution indicated that “subsequent actions will be carried out to identify those responsible for the establishment, as well as the collection of additional unit data”.

The quantity of beverages, inputs, labelling material and industrial equipment found suggests an operation of production and packaging of beverages of significant size, although the tax authority has not advanced details on the capacity of the unit or identified any responsible ones.

In the statement, the TA states that the operation “includes the efforts of the Tax Authority to strengthen supervision, prevent irregular practices and ensure compliance with tax and customs obligations”.