As part of its efforts to protect communities from counterfeit and expired products, the Northern Cape police recently seized R450,000 worth of illicit goods in Petrusville.
AS PART of its efforts to protect communities from counterfeit and expired products, the Northern Cape police recently seized R450,000 worth of illicit goods.
According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the Northern Cape provincial Organised Crime unit, supported by the Northern Cape Task Team, acted on a tip-off about counterfeit goods being sold in Petrusville on August 14, at around 5pm.
Upon raiding the identified supermarket, officers discovered counterfeit cigarettes and expired goods. A 22-year-old undocumented foreign national was found on the premises and arrested. The store owner, a 39-year-old woman, allegedly attempted to bribe a police officer while being fined and was subsequently arrested for bribery and employing an undocumented foreign national.
Further investigations led to the search of a bottle store and a wholesale shop, where a substantial amount of counterfeit goods and expired medicine were seized.
The total estimated value of the confiscated illicit cigarettes and expired goods and medicine is estimated at R450,000.
Colonel Ehlers said that the acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga, praised the swift actions of the police team and thanked the community for providing crucial information on criminal activities in the area.
