PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Thanks to cooperation between Eden police stations and other role players, more than R400 000 worth of counterfeit goods were confiscated outside Plettenberg Bay on 20 January.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie said officers pulled over a passenger bus at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza on the N2 just outside Plettenberg Bay and upon doing a search of the luggage compartment, found the counterfeit goods to the value of about R433 129 among the luggage.

This included fashion brands such as Nike, adidas, All Star and Fila shoes. "No arrest was made as no one could account for it at the time. However, an enquiry was opened for further investigation. An arrest is imminent," Pojie said.

He said this was one of several "exceptional results" of the crime-combatting operation held between 19 and 21 January. 

The operation focused on monitoring and policing of main entrance and exit routes between provinces in an attempt to eradicate the flow of illegal goods and drugs into the Western Cape.

"We furthermore aim to ensure the safety of rural and urban communities by means of high density patrols and road visibility roadblocks."

The integrated approach included all police units, provincial and local municipal traffic departments, the South African Revenue Service (Sars), nature conservation, private security companies, the Department of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries and other "force multipliers" such as community policing forums (CPF) and neighbourhood watch groups.

Drugs

In addition to the find of counterfeit goods, Pojie said the successes achieved included the arrest of five suspects for various serious crimes, mainly drug-related offences, such as the possession or dealing in cannabis and khat.

Officers confiscated 3 963 bundles of khat, more than 5kg of dagga, small quantities of crystal meth (tik) and Mandrax tablets.

About 50 fines and admissions of guilt to the combined amount of about R48 500 were issued for traffic violations and other minor offences. During these operations officers searched 352 vehicles and 441 people.

Counterfeit shoes confiscated during a bust at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza.

On 21 January officers of the Eden Flying Squad, assisted by the sector commander, followed up information received of a drug deal scheduled to be pulled off at a garage in George.

"They spotted the vehicle, a VW Polo, that was described to them and witnessed the delivery as it took place. They stopped the vehicle in its tracks and ensued with a search upon which they found three boxes containing 3 920 bundles khat."

A 34-year-old man was arrested and detained at the George police holding cells.

He was granted bail to appear in court on a later date for the illegal possession of drugs.

"Besides these successes, we are confident that a significant decline in most categories of crime was achieved for the duration of these operations. The absence of serious crime in especially the rural areas within the Eden Cluster can be attributed to the high density patrols and visible policing in these remote areas," Pojie said.

Western Cape police management lauded the efforts made to safeguard rural communities and encouraged the clusters to continue with their endeavours to maintain safety and security in these sectors.

Brand counterfeit shoes were confiscated during a bust at the Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza.

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