Counterfeit goods with more than R100 million seized in Belville
Counterfeit goods with more than R100 million were confiscated in Belville on Friday.
COURTESY: SAPSThe police’s Andrè Traut said members of SAPS, Customs and
Excise and brand protectors from various famous high end products descended on
a shopping complex in Durban Road in Bellville on Friday morning to tackle the
illicit trade in counterfeit goods.
COURTESY: SAPS‘’At around 10:00 the multidisciplinary team executed a
search warrant after a thorough investigation where intelligence was gathered
over a period of time. The end product of the operation saw truckloads of
counterfeit goods comprising an assortment of popular brands as well as illicit
tobacco products being transported to a depot as exhibits in a contravention of
the Counterfeits Goods Act case,’’ said Colonel Andrè Traut.
COURTESY: SAPS‘’The value of the seizure is hard to determine at this
premature stage but a fair estimate will go beyond a R100 million. Four
suspects have been detained while many traders abandoned their stalls upon
police arrival and managed to escape being apprehended. As our investigation
unfolds, more arrests could be affected,’’ he added.
Western Cape’s Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, praised the team for the bust made.
‘’Lt Gen (Adv) TE Patekile expressed his sincere
appreciations towards the members of the team who ensured the successful
removal of fake products from the streets of the Province. Lt Gen (Adv)
Patekile said that those who are under the impression that they can make a
lucrative living from selling inferior goods to the public and impacting on the
economy of the county should reconsider, because more similar operations will
be executed not long from now.’’
COURTESY: SAPSDone By: Mitchum George
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