On 4 May, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) raided an unauthorised warehouse in Vryburg, North-West, confiscating millions of rands worth of illegally manufactured alcohol and bitcoin mining equipment.
The warehouse was used to illegally connect the cryptocurrency 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. 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. An investigation is under way, and more arrests are expected.
The SARS Commissioner praised the ongoing cooperation between SARS and SAPS in apprehending those who are bent on perpetrating criminality.