Springboks counterfeit jerseys manufacturing plant raided. Photo: SAPS/ Facebook
Booming Springboks jerseys black market targeted by Commercial Crimes Unit
Manufacturers of illicit Springbok jerseys were stopped in their tracks after the operation was raided by the Commercial Crimes Unit.
Springboks counterfeit jerseys manufacturing plant raided. Photo: SAPS/ Facebook
The Rugby World Cup fever has seen many locals don their Springboks jerseys in support of the local charges in France.
BLACK MARKET TAKING OVER SPRINGBOKS WEAR AMID RUGBY WORLD CUP
While the Springboks apparel is expected to sell like hotcakes at leading retailers, the black market has unfortunately crippled in to claim its share of the pie.
However, the Commercial Crimes Unit is not allowing the black market to succeed.
To attest to this, Police members attached to the Western Cape Commercial Crimes unit pursued information pertaining a premises used to manufacture counterfeit goods in Brackenfell, Western Cape.
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POLICE POUNCE ON FAKE JERSEYS MANUFACTURERS
Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said the members prepared an application for a search warrant, which was presented to the Senior Public Prosecutor and ultimately approved by the Magistrate for execution.
On Thursday, 14 September 2023 the police members executed the search warrant when they entered a local business premises in Fourie Street, Brackenfell. They confiscated 67 branded and 50 unbranded Springbok jerseys, 513 cuffs and collars and 7 working stations.
Captain van Wyk
“They arrested and detained two females aged 25 and 47 on a charge of possession of counterfeit goods.”
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The suspects are expected to make a court appearance in the Blue Down Magistrates’ Court on the mentioned charge soon.
R100 MILLION WORTH OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS SEIZED
Meanwhile, counterfeit goods estimated to exceed R100 million were seized by police in what can be termed a multimillion-rand integrated takedown operation on Friday, 28 July.
Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut reported that members of SAPS, Customs and Excise and brand protectors from various famous high-end products descended on a shopping complex on Durban Road in Bellville to tackle the illicit trade in counterfeit goods.
He said the end product of the operation saw truckloads of counterfeit goods comprising an assortment of popular brands and illicit tobacco products being transported to a depot as exhibits in contravention of the Counterfeits Goods Act case.
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