Hawks seize suspected counterfeit goods worth R7m in Gqeberha

The Hawks have seized suspected counterfeit branded merchandise worth approximately R7 million in Gqeberha, leading to the summons of two shop owners. The Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, revealed that the search-and-seizure operation was conducted on September 16 at Sneaker Freakz, a retail shop located at the intersection of Bell and Beetlestone roads in Gelvandale.

The investigation, initiated following test purchases of suspected counterfeit Adidas products and Nike sneakers, resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of counterfeit goods. The suspects, aged between 30 and 40, are expected to appear before the Gqeberha New Law Court on October 29. This operation is part of the ongoing fight against the trade in counterfeit branded merchandise, which is primarily concentrated in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.

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