Hawks seize counterfeit goods worth over R5 million

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation assisted by the Musina based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Musina SAPS Detectives, Musina Crime Intelligence(CI), Beitbridge- South African Revenue Services(SARS), South African National Defence Force, (SANDF), Beitbridge SAPS Task Team and Musina Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) seized counterfeit goods valued at over R5 million during an intelligence driven operation conducted in Musina area on Wednesday, 19 July 2023.

On the day, the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation members based in Musina received intelligence about illicit cigarettes storage at a certain address in the Musina area. A sting operation was immediately conducted. The investigation led the team to a suspicious house in the area. When they arrived at the identified address, they found three vehicles (Toyota Quantum, Toyota Corolla and Nissan bakkie) parked inside the yard.

The Toyota Quantum was searched and the team found 29 x Master cases of Chele Chele illicit cigarettes, 6 x loose packets of Chele Chele illicit cigarettes and 6 x cartoons of Royal Express illicit cigarettes and seized them. Further investigation led to the seizure of more illicit cigarettes (100 x Master cases of Royal Express, 24 x cartoons of Royal Express, 3 x loose packets of Remington Gold, 56 x Master Remington Gold, 9 x cartoons of Gold, 8 x loose packets of Chele Chele illicit cigarettes and 15X Master cases of Chele Chele illicit cigarettes) that were found hidden in the storeroom and in the yard.

Through a proper observation, counterfeit clothing and traditional material were found hidden inside the Toyota Corolla and they were also seized. The estimated value of the seized illicit cigarettes and the vehicles is over R5 million.

The value of the counterfeit clothing and traditional material is still going to be determined by the ongoing investigation.

Source: South African Police Service