Counterfeit and illicit goods valued at over R5 million have been seized in a police operation in Musina, Limpopo.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), in collaboration with its crime-fighting partners, conducted an operation that was spearheaded by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, with support from the SAPS Gauteng Drone Team, including the Bloemfontein K9 Unit, South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs, and brand protectors on Sunday.
A roving team comprising SAPS members from specialised units deployed in Limpopo, as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, also participated in the operation.
The team executed a search-and-seizure warrant at a shopping mall in Musina's central business district.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, said more than 2 000 counterfeit and illicit items, including sneakers, clothing, cellphone accessories, perfume and consumables, were confiscated during the operation.
She said two Eritrean nationals and one Bangladeshi national, all asylum seekers, were arrested for dealing in counterfeit goods.
The Bangladeshi national faces an additional charge for bribery after attempting to bribe officers at the scene to evade arrest.
“On the same day, the team stopped and searched vehicles in the area, which led them to arrest a suspect for possession of a stolen vehicle. The members also seized dagga and drugs found abandoned in a taxi after the driver and commuters fled the scene on foot,” Van Wyk said in a statement.
Van Wyk noted that while primarily tasked with addressing crimes associated with illicit mining, the members contribute to combating a broader range of criminal activities in the province.
She said SAPS, together with its partners, remains steadfast in its efforts to eliminate the illegal trade of counterfeit and illicit goods, which poses risks to consumers, harm legitimate businesses, and undermine the economy of the country. – SAnews.gov.za
