Hawks seize suspected counterfeit goods worth R7m in Gqeberha
The Hawks in the Eastern Cape have charged two people after seizing counterfeit branded merchandise worth an estimated R7 million.
Two shop owners in Gqeberha, aged between 30 and 40, face charges for allegedly violating the Counterfeit Goods Act after Hawks seized an estimated R7 million worth of suspected counterfeit branded merchandise. The suspects were served with summons and are set to appear before the Gqeberha New Law Court on October 29. The Eastern Cape Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) unit conducted a search-and-seizure operation at Sneaker Freakz on September 16, resulting in the confiscation of the goods.
The investigation began with test purchases of suspected counterfeit Adidas sneakers in June, followed by additional test purchases of suspected counterfeit Nike sneakers and Lacoste T-shirts. Hawks, in collaboration with Spoor & Fisher and Department of Justice officials, obtained a search warrant, leading to the recovery of the substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit merchandise.
The suspects, identified as the owners of the retail shop, are the primary subjects of the illicit trade and distribution of counterfeit branded merchandise, which is primarily concentrated in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
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