Guadalcanal Police have successfully executed a raid on Tuesday on the illegal manufacture of liquor locally known as Kwaso and arrested six suspects.
A statement from the Police Media Unit said, the Police Operation raid a place near the Lungga River-mouth called Patmos Island.
The suspects were apprehended and taken into police custody.
Reports said, responding to information provided by members of the Patmos Island community, a team of 19 officers from the Guadalcanal Provincial Police led by Sergeant Vincent Forau successfully carried out the initial phase of the operation at approximately 2:40 pm on Tuesday.
The operation was supported with additional nine officers from the Police Headquarters, Police EOD unit and Honiara City Police personnel.
The kwaso manufacturing sites were location within the marsh-lands (swampy areas) less than 300 meters from the Ranadi dump site. Despite the conditions, police officers braved their way through the un-friendly environment to execute their duties.
“Two separated sites that were allegedly used by the suspects to manufacture their illegal produces were located.
“Police also found a range of items within the locations that may have been used for kwaso production.
“ The items include 24 x 200 litre barrels filled with brews (Kwaso products) that were being fermented, 65 x Gas bottles that were used as and other items that may have been used as distillers.”
A small hut at the site was also searched by police officers in which they also discovered a total of 272 bottles of kwaso, 14 x 600mls bottles and 10 x 20 litres containers filled with the distilled kwaso product ready to be bottled, it was revealed.
The seized items were sorted out and some taken to police vehicle where they were later taken to the police station while most of them were destroyed at the scene.
The kwaso products confiscated by police is estimated to be worth more than SBD$70,000.00 on the street market.
Police officers at the scene also received information in relation to those involved from members of the Patmos Island community. Following a quick investigation, police identified a white Toyota Corolla Station Wagon allegedly used by the suspects to transport the products. The vehicle along with the six suspects were escorted to Henderson Police Station.
Sergeant Forau who led the team, thanked the officers who were involved for their enthusiasm which resulted in the success of the operation.
“It was an excellent team effort and without such eagerness we would have not been as successful,” he explained. “I sincerely commend the officers who took part in the operation for their dedication and commitment.”
Sergeant Forau extended his appreciation to the Patmos community for their cooperation, saying that their support was crucial to the success of the operation.
“The team work in this policing effort is not confined to the participation of the different police stations,” he explained. “The assistance provided by members of the public was central to the successful result of the operation.”
“I thank the community of Patmos Island for the important support they provided and I would like to urge them to continue to work closely with police,” Sergeant Forau said.
– Police Media