Arron Nyamayaro THIRTY two people, including SEVEN foreign nationals, have been arrested for operating an alcohol manufacturing plant, manufacturing and distributing illicit brews without following proper procedures and without proper documents. The seven directors were the leadership team at Samna Liquor Company, which has a liquor licence to manufacture and distribute alcoholic beverages. The company has been manufacturing and distributing four types of alcoholic labels – Jay-Dox Vodka, Happy Cheers Mint Vodka, Happy Cheers Whisky Premium and Jay-Dox Brandy – since last year. However, police say the alcohol content in their illicit brews has not been tested and the company has not been following proper procedures and proper documents. Their 25 employees, who have been working without food handling certificates, thereby risking the health of the consumers of their products, were also arrested in the police operation. Five vehicles, which were used in the distribution network, have been impounded by the police. It’s a crushing blow to the operations at Samna Liquor Company and it’s probably the biggest attack on this network, which produces and distributes illicit alcoholic drinks, since police started their crackdown. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest saying all the seven directors are foreign nationals who were also staying at the rented plant premises. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the arrest of seven directors and 25 employees in Harare. “The suspects are facing charges of operating a liquor manufacturing plant and distributing the illicit brews without following proper procedures and without proper documents. “The directors have been violating the country’s laws although they had acquired a liquor licence from local authorities. “Police have seized five vehicles they were using to distribute their products and a stock of the illicit beers worth hundreds of thousands dollars. “Investigations carried so far have established that the products have been made of ethanol, flavours and water only and the 40 percent alcohol content was not tested. “Further investigations are being conducted and the suspects will appear in court soon,” said Comm Nyathi.