The South African Revenue Service (SARS), jointly with the South African Police Service (SAPS), on Thursday conducted a raid on an unauthorised warehouse in Vryburg, North West where they confiscated millions of rands-worth of illegally manufactured alcohol and bitcoin mining equipment.
According to SAPS, the warehouse was used to illegally connect the crypto currency mining equipment to the town’s electrical power supply. It was also used to manufacture 14 617 bottles of duty-free liquor and popular local brands.
The bitcoin mining equipment is valued at around R10 million while the alcohol is estimated at R3.8 million.
SAPS said the warehouse was well equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to enable those involved to carry out their criminal activities. One foreign national was arrested and more arrests are expected.
SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, praised the ongoing cooperation between SARS and SAPS in apprehending “those who are bent on perpetrating criminality”.
He said the raid formed part of SARS’ decision to act more vigilantly against unregistered taxpayers conducting business and to protect legitimate businesses.
