MBS, police burn liquor in Chikwawa
The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) in collaboration with police in Chikwawa on Tuesday burned liquor worth about K6 million.
The exercise, aimed at cracking down on liquor, took place between the district council and police premises.
A total of 300 cartons containing 1 200 bottles of the banned alcoholic drink were set alight in an operation which attracted scores of witnesses.
The burning comes barely two days after police manning the checkpoint at Thabwa intercepted a van and a minibus carrying the liquor belonging to a Burundian trader.
The Burundian, Ndiho Alphonse, and a Malawian, Alex Paul, were arrested and later released on bail.
The two have since been fined K500 000 for contravening the MBS Act Number 14 of 2012 and the subsequent ban of spirits packaged in illegal plastic bottles.
MBS director general Davlin Chokazinga said the fine, imposed by his institution, is meant to cover transportation and disposal costs.
He said the suspects have been taken to court to be tried for a criminal case of being found in possession of unlicenced liquor. If found guilty, they are likely to serve three years in jail.
