The General Inspectorate for Economic Activities (IGAE) of Cape Verde has seized 10,560 liters of syrup unsuitable for brandy production on the island of Sao Vicente, which was infested with maggots, fungi, rats and other impurities, it was announced this Wednesday.
The IAEA said in a statement that it carried out a joint operation with the National Police and seized more than 10 tons of syrup, unsuitable for the production of cognac, outside the legal production period.
“The hygienic conditions of the fermentation shop, the containers were inadequate, and the syrup was contaminated with larvae, fungi, rats and other impurities,” the same criminal police agency established.
In addition, he added that 75 liters of cognac were seized without sanitary clearance and packaged in gallons of detergents and 30 liters of honey under the same conditions.
“All seized goods will be destroyed,” he assured.
Every year, until May, IGAE inspects these sugarcane brandy or chamotte production sites, which usually involves closing down a few illegal production units and destroying many tons of those that are unfit for consumption.
According to data previously provided by the same institution, there are a total of 388 grog stills in Cape Verde, of which more than a quarter (99) are concentrated in the municipality of Ribeira Grande de Santo Antan.
The period of industrialization of sugar cane for the production of meal begins on January 1 of each year.
In 2015, Cape Verde approved a new law regulating the production and sale of sugar cane brandy, traditionally known to be fraudulent, in an effort to increase oversight of the sector.
Legislation defines the guiding principles of production, namely those related to hygiene, environmental protection, the protection and promotion of public health and the rights of consumers and producers.
Consumption of poor quality grog has caused several deaths in the archipelago and left many people incapacitated due to the addition of unhealthy raw materials, leading to a depreciation of the product.