Police seize illegal goods worth R55m in Bellville

Various illegal goods such as clothes, shoes and watches were seized in an operation in the Bellville CBD on Sunday, police say.

“Members executed a search and seizure warrant at the said premises and in the process confiscated various brands of counterfeit goods with an estimated street value of about R55 million, consisting of popular high-end brands,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said.

The operation was conducted alongside the brand holders and other partners, and discovered what was regarded as “one of the biggest counterfeit and illicit goods distributors in the Western Cape”, he said.

Police said the investigation was ongoing and that there were no arrests by Tuesday morning.

“Although no arrest were effected in this regard, we believe that significant inroads have been made in our fight to eradicate this global threat,” said provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile.