Musina: Counterfeit and illicit goods valued at over R5 million have been seized in a police operation in Musina, Limpopo.
According to South African Government News Agency, the South African Police Service (SAPS), in collaboration with its crime-fighting partners, conducted an operation led by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit. Support was provided by the SAPS Gauteng Drone Team, Bloemfontein K9 Unit, South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs, and brand protectors on Sunday.
A roving team consisting of SAPS members from specialised units deployed in Limpopo, as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, also took part in the operation. The team executed a search-and-seizure warrant at a shopping mall located in Musina’s central business district.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, reported that more than 2,000 counterfeit and illicit items, including sneakers, clothing, cellphone accessories, perfume, and consumables, were confiscated during the operation. She stated that 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.
Van Wyk added that on the same day, the team stopped and searched vehicles in the area, leading to the arrest of 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 noted that while the team is primarily tasked with addressing crimes associated with illicit mining, its members contribute to combating a broader range of criminal activities in the province. She emphasized that SAPS, together with its partners, remains committed to eliminating the illegal trade of counterfeit and illicit goods, which poses risks to consumers, harms legitimate businesses, and undermines the economy of the country.