South Africa: smuggling of counterfeits to Europe stopped

Further east, in a series of raids in the South African city of Durban, officers also seized counterfeit branded clothing with an estimated value of up to 1.6 million euros (25 million South African Rand). According to media reports, officers in the SAPS and local police authorities together confiscated items such as shoes, jackets, joggers and bags which infringed the IP rights of international brands such as Adidas and Nike.

In a third case, investigators seized more than 700 counterfeit mobile phones and electronic accessories from various manufacturers, which the SAPS says were en route to Cape Town in a car. The items seized include imitation batteries, earphones and charging cables; according to the report, the confiscated goods had an estimated total value of roughly 32,000 euros (around 500,000 South African Rand). Two suspects were arrested. “Fake and counterfeit products pose a serious risk to the country’s economy,” said Major Gen Andre Swart, Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS. Swart also stressed the personal responsibility of consumers in the fight against counterfeits: The community is fervently urged to refrain from buying counterfeit goods and to report any suspicious behaviour to the police.”