Durban police have seized falsely branded clothing worth R60 million at Durban harbour, bringing the value of counterfeit goods found at the port last year to about R10 billion.
The harbour’s operational response services unit swooped last week on a container packed with fake Nike, Adidas, Puma, Daniel Hechter, Levis and Uzzi shoes and T-shirts.
Police spokesman Colonel Vincent Mdunge said the 40-foot container arrived from China on December 16. Its contents were destined for a shop in the Springfield Park area.
He said the shipment had been monitored by the national crime intelligence unit for several weeks.
Members of the police anti-smuggling unit and SA Revenue Service officials examined the goods, which were found to be fake.
Once the investigation was finalised, the goods would be destroyed, and arrests were imminent, Mdunge said.
Earlier last year, counterfeit goods worth more than R100m were intercepted at the harbour by police during Operation Duty Calls, and goods worth a further R15 million were seized in July.
Police attribute the R10 billion total in seized goods last year to regular, even more sizeable, finds of fake goods – two or three a month.
“Our operations ensure that the number of counterfeit goods that infiltrate the market is minimal,” said Mdunge.
“Those that do slip through the system are often sold on the black market. But several reputable stores are also being investigated for selling these illegal goods. Unfortunately, the customer only finds out a few weeks or months down the line when the garment shows wear and tear.
“By then it is too late. These garments do not carry any guarantees. Also, in some instances the customer ends up paying the same price for the fake item as the genuine one.”
He said counterfeit goods harmed the economy, with criminals evading Sars and other costs associated with importing goods.
Brigadier Anthony Gopaul, the section head of the harbour’s operational response services unit, said last week’s bust was part of Operation Nortje, launched in memory of Warrant Officer Johan Nortje, who was shot dead outside his home.
He was an officer in the police’s protection security service, and was responsible for investigating smuggling of goods and drugs through Durban harbour. A hit was allegedly ordered on his life after he made a R100m counterfeit bust at the harbour.
Members linked to the unit said their job was extremely dangerous as the counterfeit market was controlled by a mafia-like empire.
Nationally, police had had several successes against counterfeit goods and apparel in the past three months at various ports of entry, said police spokesman, Colonel Vish Naidoo.
“From October to date, the South African Police Service and our counterparts from other government departments have prevented a variety of counterfeit goods valued at over R2.5bn from entering South Africa. At least five suspects (have been arrested) in connection with some of these goods.”
He said the grabs were made at various ports of entry – land, sea and air.
Among the goods seized were: perfume valued at R1 052 168 245, cigarettes (R8 052 478), Lion matches (R2 830 000), branded clothing (R1 488 554 804), toys and clothes (R300 000), CDs and DVDs (R156 500), toothbrushes (R7 308 000), wallets and bag (R264 000), shoes (R2 981 600), cellphones (R2 550 000), accessories (R2 243 450), Doom coils (R40 960), light bulbs (R279 650), bags (R200 000), electronics (R129 900) and rugby jerseys (R700 000).
Naidoo said operations at ports of entry formed part of festive season operations focused on the proliferation of counterfeit goods.
During this period the demand for counterfeit goods was high, he said.