KNYSNA NEWS - Officers taking part in a joint police crime-combating operation aimed at curbing the increase of counterfeit goods on the Garden Route, confiscated goods valued at about R510 000 from shops in the central business districts of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay last week.
Sergeant Chris Spies, Southern Cape police spokesperson, said the officers went to the shops on Tuesday 17 September and seized household goods and cellphone accessories.
Three Pakistani nationals aged between 20 and 25 were taken into custody for contraventions of the Immigration Act.
On Monday 16 September, officers seized an estimated R95 000 worth of household goods such as toothpaste, deodorant and shoe polish, and cellphone accessories, in George.
Three undocumented persons aged between 21 and 29 were arrested.
Some of the confiscated 'counterfeit' shoe polish that was seized in George.
Threatening economy
Spies said Western Cape police management had "commended all role-players for their commitment to close down the counterfeit industry, which is threatening the economy of the province".
Officers carrying out the operation were attached to the Western Cape Counterfeit and Illicit Goods Policing Team, Public Order Police, Garden Route District Crime Combating Team and Brand Protectors.
Their operation formed part of a broader inter-provincial cross-border clampdown on the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods.
The clampdown began on Monday 16 September and ended on Friday 20 September. Overall, goods worth an estimated R1 million were seized on the Garden Route.
A large amount of 'counterfeit' cellphone accessories were confiscated in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna.
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