A Cape Flats smokkie was left high and dry on payday after cops raided the illegal outlet and confiscated alcohol worth more than R30 000 on Friday.
After several complaints about the illegal shebeen in New Horizons, Grassy Park police raided the property, which is secured by CCTV cameras, and caught a server in the act of trying to hide the liquor.
The Daily Voice joined the team as they searched the property and officers stood in disbelief after finding the weekend supplies hidden in freezers and cupboards.
Shortly after 10 am, officers knocked on the door as a pit bull barked at them.
“Moenie worry nie, hulle sien ons is hier, daar is die cameras mos. Kom, meneer, maak oop en sit daai honde agter! Jy weet mos hoekom is ons hier,” a cop was heard saying.
LIQUOR: Gin, ciders and other spirits found in smokkie. Photo: MONIQUE DUVAL
The dogs were moved so officers could access the garage where the stock was being kept and as they entered, they caught one of the servers trying to hide cases of Black Label beers in a bakkie parked on the property.
“Kyk die frans! Nee, meneer, daai kom saam en jy kom saam,” a cop shouted.
During the search, officers found a large selection of ice-cold beer in freezers and spirit coolers. However, convinced there was more, they requested access to a room in the garage.
“They put the dogs in this kamertjie when we came in. We found the beers but we knew there was more so we asked them to move the dogs out and there we found all the sterk wyn,” an officer said as he carried out several boxes of whiskey, gin, cocktail mixes, liqueurs and vaal wyn.
Newly appointed station commander, Colonel Dawood Laing, says the smokkie is a big problem in the area and despite continuous fines, the owner continues to operate without a liquor licence.
“The 48-year-old server was arrested and charged for the illegal sale of liquor and will make his first appearance in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court [today],” Laing said.
BARMAN: Shebeen server arrested. Photo: MONIQUE DUVAL
“There have been several operations at that property.
“There are various complaints including that they allegedly sell to teenagers.”
Police, along with Law Enforcement officers, also conducted a clean-up of the Grassy Park business district.
“This was one of the first complaints I received when starting at Grassy Park,” said Laing.
“The vagrants are behind the robberies at the taxi terminus and the breaking in of cars along Victoria Road. People coming here to shop feel unsafe and businesses are concerned.”