By Hou Akot Hou
The police in Gogrial West County of Warrap State have detained eight traders for selling already banned toxic alcohol.
While the state’s crackdown on the sale of toxic drugs and alcohol continues, traders have been cautioned to stop selling such products.
Speaking to this outlet, Peter Majok Yel, Gogrial West County police inspector, revealed that the crackdown on toxic alcohol has resulted in the arrest of eight traders who violated the orders.
“We arrested some women and men, about 8 of them, and the operation is ongoing, and our aim is to ensure that they abide by the order of the governor, who came recently and passed the orders from Kuajok to the county, which we are implementing,” Majok said.
He added that the police on operation have started confiscating the banned local drinks, such as jerrycans of toxic alcohol commonly known as “sikos” or “aragi.”
“Anyone contravening or breaking the rules has to be fined 660 SSP and 6 months in prison,” he added.
The police officer expressed that those arrested violated the order that bans the sale of toxic alcohol that continues to endanger the lives of the youth.
He added that local brews such as “aragi or siko” and Star-Gin, among others, were banned in the state.
According to officials, this is done to abide by and minimize the causes of rising conflicts in the communities, which are always being instigated by youth once they get drunk.
He said that the police have collected about 8 jerrycans of sikos as part of the crackdown.
Inspector Majok went on to say that the reason behind the confiscation is meant to quell the continuation of the local conflicts in the communities of Warrap, as young men become wild once they get drunk.
“Some young men become drunk and at times kill at will; this is something that the governor and his cabinet have looked into,” he added.
When asked whether other drinks such as beers are accepted, he responded that other local drinks like white stuff and beer are allowed.
“The local drinks, like white stuff and beer, are allowed. Beer is being taxed all the way from Juba, and it is up to the national government to stop it from the border, and these local orders are meant to make the youth become more peaceful within themselves and neighbors from whom they raid the cattle,” he explained.
He called on the members of the public to report traders violating the orders in the residential areas.