The law enforcement agencies’ operation targeted outlets selling and distributing counterfeit goods within the province.

The multidisciplinary team – comprising members of the Western Cape Essential Infrastructure Task Team, the National Counterfeit Unit, Public Order Policing (POPS) Western Cape, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), Customs officials and Brand Protectors – conducted inspections at identified business premises in Bellville last week, where suspected counterfeit goods were being sold.

During the operation, a large consignment of counterfeit clothing, footwear and accessories, bearing the trademarks of well-known international brands, was seized. The total estimated value of the confiscated goods is approximately R8 million.

While no arrests were effected during the operation, investigations are continuing to trace the supply network and determine the origin of the illicit goods.

The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Adv.) Thembisile Patekile, commended the collaborative effort, emphasising that the sale of counterfeit products undermines legitimate business operations, deprives the State of revenue, and often supports organised criminal networks.

“The SAPS will continue to work closely with enforcement agencies and brand representatives to remove counterfeit products from circulation and to protect the rights of consumers and legitimate traders,” said Patekile.

Members of the public are urged to report the sale of suspected counterfeit goods to their nearest police station or through the SAPS Crime Stop number — 08600 10111.

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The arrests were made by Border Management Authority (BMA) Border Guards stationed at the port on Monday.

“The arrests took place when BMA law enforcement officers, stopped a truck entering South Africa for inspection. The driver and his assistant, both Mozambicans, attempted to mislead officers by claiming that the truck was transporting cooking pots and towels. However, upon a thorough inspection, the officers uncovered hidden counterfeit goods,” said the authority on Wednesday.

The counterfeit goods included 100 boxes of Afzal hookah pipe flavours, various branded sneakers, over 1000 pairs of Nike sandals, as well as Louis Vuitton belts.

“All the goods were confirmed as counterfeit by SAPS [South African Police Service]. Both suspects were arrested and detained at Manguzi SAPS and charged with contraventions of the Counterfeit Goods Act 37 of 1997 and the Tobacco Products Control Act 83 of 1993.”

The Commissioner of the BMA, Dr Michael Masiapato, commended the officers for their vigilance.

“The continuous interception of counterfeit goods at our ports of entry demonstrates the BMA’s resolve to secure South Africa’s ports of entry against criminal syndicates. These counterfeit products not only undermine legitimate businesses and erode tax revenue but also compromise the safety of consumers. The arrests at Kosi Bay are yet another reminder that our officers remain alert and ready to enforce the law,” said Dr Masiapato.

The latest seizure forms part of the authority’s ongoing clampdown on illicit trade. In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, between April and June, the BMA intercepted 32 bales of counterfeit clothing together with 201 pairs of footwear valued at R1 098 000 were confiscated at Lebombo and Kosi Bay.

Counterfeit cigarettes with an estimated value of R1 143 720 were also seized at Van Rooyen, Lebombo, and Caledonspoort.

Masiapato reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to working closely with law enforcement partners, including the SAPS, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Revenue Service (SARS), to dismantle the networks behind illicit trade and protect South Africa’s economy and communities.

“The BMA is determined to secure our borders and ensure that criminal activities such as smuggling, and illicit trade find no space in our country. Working together with our partners, we will protect South Africa’s economy and communities for a better South Africa,” said Dr Masiapato.

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The police also arrested 37 suspects of various nationalities during multiple takedown operations conducted in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal throughout the month of January 2025.

The seized counterfeit and illicit goods included cellphones and accessories, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, toys, clothing and consumables.

These operations were led by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, with the support of the provincial Counterfeit Goods Units, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs division and brand protectors.

A Mission Action Joint Operation Centre (MAJOC) roving team — comprising SAPS members from various specialised units such as the Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Policing (POP) and SAPS drone pilots deployed in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal as part of Operation Vala Umgodi — also formed part of the operations.

While primarily focused on combating illicit mining, these teams also target other criminal activities within the provinces, the police said.

The SAPS said it remains dedicated to dismantling the illegal trade of counterfeit and illicit goods, which pose risks to consumers, harm legitimate businesses and undermine South Africa’s economy.

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In the Vhembe District, coordinated operations by the MAJOC Roving Team, in collaboration with the Bloemfontein K9 Unit, targeted illicit trade in the Mphephu and Musina policing precincts. This operation led to the seizure of counterfeit goods and other illegal merchandise worth R6,694,227. In Musina, a high-speed car chase resulted in the interception of two BMW sedans suspected of transporting illicit cigarettes. After the occupants fled, police discovered several boxes of illegal cigarettes in the abandoned vehicles, valued at R729,891. Both vehicles were confiscated as part of the investigation.

On 17 January 2025, operations at shops in Mphephu led to the seizure of counterfeit cosmetics worth R154,030 and illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R1,726. The following day, in Musina town, operations at 10 shops uncovered counterfeit clothing valued at R6,222,435 and counterfeit cosmetics worth R119,675, bringing the total for the day to R6,342,110.

On 18 January 2025, the coordinated efforts of SAPS and SARS Customs led to the arrest of a 44-year-old foreign national for smuggling illicit cigarettes at the Beitbridge Port of Entry. The suspect, driving a white truck with a tanker trailer, was stopped by police, who discovered that the truck was fully loaded with illicit Remington Gold brand cigarettes. The cigarettes, valued at R14,449,363, were confiscated along with the truck and tanker, valued at R2.5 million. The suspect was arrested and is expected to face charges of smuggling illicit cigarettes in the Musina Magistrate’s Court.

These operations, which also included stop-and-search activities, route patrols, and foot patrols, are part of the broader efforts under Operation Vala Umgodi to combat illegal mining, curb the distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods, and protect local economies. Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, praised the police for their vigilance and effective collaboration in disrupting illegal trade at the borders, highlighting the significant impact of these operations on the fight against criminal activities in South Africa. Investigations are ongoing.

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The takedown was led by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit joined by the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit, Public Order Policing, South African Revenue Services (SARS), South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Brand Protectors, Crime Prevention Wardens, and private security personnel. The operation was executed on Friday 25 October under a search and seizure warrant that targeted shopping malls in the Johannesburg CBD.

More than 6 000 counterfeit items were confiscated, including pharmaceuticals, clothing, watches, bags, cosmetics, and perfumes.

“The SAPS, along with its partners, is committed to eradicating the illegal trade of counterfeit goods to safeguard consumers, legitimate businesses, and the economy of this country,” it said in a statement.

A 16 October operation in Langlaagte focussing on counterfeit goods saw one suspect arrested for trade of counterfeit goods and seven undocumented people apprehended. The team also seized a large quantity of counterfeit perfumes and illicit raw tobacco rolling papers.

“The trade of counterfeit goods and contraband is unlawful and has a detrimental impact on the economic growth of the country hence the law enforcement agencies in Gauteng will continue to destabilize the market of illicit trade of counterfeit goods,” the SAPS said.

Another operation on 9 October in Dragon City, Johannesburg, resulted in the confiscation of counterfeit and illicit goods worth R10 million. The items that were seized included toothpaste and medicine.

Concerns over food safety and poisoning are also driving law enforcement to clamp down on illicit and counterfeit goods. There has been anoutcry regarding treatment and admission of children to hospitals in various parts of the country due to apparent poor hygiene, food handling practices and alleged unsafe production of certain counterfeit food items and suspected food poisoning.

Last week, police arrested two suspects for violating health and safety, immigration and counterfeit goods acts. Pretoria West Detectives were following up leads after arresting a man delivering expired food stuffs he allegedly bought in Brits. They teamed up with the local Visible Policing members and proceeded to a warehouse at Industrial Sites where they found the owner; a South African and his undocumented employee from Malawi. The pair was allegedly found manufacturing food items on three separate machines. Furthermore, the police detected boxes containing seasoning spices, which expired in July 2022. The members also discovered five 20 litre containers of expired peanut butter as well as macaroni pasta, spaghetti and a variety of spices. The owner was requested to prove the legitimacy of his business, but failed to do that. As a result, Bojanala District Municipality Health Services officials were summoned to the scene and they later confirmed that some of the products had expired and cannot be consumed.

The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest. He indicated that different role players under the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PPROVJOINTS), with Department of Health taking the lead, are ready to deal with issues pertaining to food safety.

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