Hawks seize fake goods worth R5m in Cape Town
Law enforcement authorities infiltrated the area after the SANDF and Public Order Police cordoned off the area.
A joint multidisciplinary team conducted a search and seizure operation in Bellville, Cape Town on Thursday, in an effort to eradicate the spread of counterfeit goods.
The Hawks, Crime Intelligence, Department of Health officials, brand holders Adams and Adams as well as Spoor and Fisher and infiltrated the area after the South African Defence Force (SANDF) and Public Order Police cordoned off the area and kept a vigilant eye on merchants and employees.
According to the Hawks' Philani Nkwalase, the retailers closed their shops upon seeing the presence of law enforcement agencies.
"However, this didn’t deter the team from executing their job," says Nkwalase.
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"Several products from well-known brands ranging from T-shirts, tracksuits, sneakers, flip flops shorts all valued at over R5 million were seized."
The goods were recovered from four shops and no arrests were made pending further investigation by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.
Charges that would be preferred would include fraud and contraventions of the Counterfeit Goods and Medicine Acts.