The South African Police Service (SAPS) confiscated more than R2.5 million worth of counterfeit cellphones at ports of entry into SA within a three-month period.
Overall, counterfeit goods valued at over R2.5 billion were seized between October and December, and at least five suspects were arrested in connection with some of the goods.
The SAPS reveals, in a report, that it confiscated R129 900 worth of electronics, which includes DVD players and TVs, as well as CDs and DVDs valued at R156 500.
The operation, based at all ports of entry into SA, aimed to stop counterfeit goods from entering the country. The counterfeit phones mostly came from Asia and parts of Africa.
SAPS spokesman colonel Vishnu Naidoo says: “Based on our intelligence work, this year we saw an influx of counterfeit goods entering the country. The SAPS has not yet done a full comparison of how much counterfeit goods were seized compared with last year because the operation has not finished yet.”
According to Naidoo, the current SAPS operation, run in conjunction with the South African Revenue Service, customs and home affairs, will continue until the end of the month.
Naidoo adds: “Overall, it's been a very successful operation. This year we increased manpower at all ports of entry into the country, not only to target counterfeit goods but also to search for contraband and illegal firearms.”
The SAPS did not indicate which cellphone brands had been faked.
Share