Monday, March 23, 2009

Copperheads crackdown on counterfeit syndicate

By Mishkah Anthony
23 March 2009


A huge consignment of counterfeit Nike products worth thousands of rands was confiscated during a joint crime fighting operation at Parow station.

The raid was co-ordinated by the SA Police Services and included the City of Cape Town’s Copperheads, Customs & Excise, Home Affairs, SA Revenue Services and representatives from Nike.

Councillor Pieter van Dalen, Chairperson of the Copperheads crime-fighting unit says this is the first of many such raids as any trade in counterfeit merchandise effectively destroys local jobs and is detrimental to the country’s economy.

“This crime against the citizens of South Africa is carried out by a syndicate that imports these goods illegally. It might even be aided and abetted by some of the people that police our borders.

Van Dalen says the market is flooded with counterfeit goods and just about every stall is selling them. He days the City plans to take tougher action against these illicit sales and urges all residents to avoid purchasing these unlicensed products.

“We are forging stronger partnerships with the different crime fighting agencies and this is the way to go in the future,” says Van Dalen.

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