| 2025/02/02 |
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Media Statement
KWAZULU-NATAL – On Thursday, 30 January 2025, the Hawks members from Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation successfully executed a search warrant , resulting in the confiscation of counterfeit goods worth R307 840-40 in Umlazi, Durban. The investigation into the contraband commenced in September 2024, when a shipment of suspicious boxes arrived at the container depot in Durban from China and was intercepted by Customs officials. The boxes contained suspected counterfeit bottle closures and the Hawks were alerted to the situation. During the controlled delivery of the seized boxes, surveillance was initiated to track the vehicle transporting the goods. Further investigation led to a house in Umlazi township where 27 boxes were recovered, consisting of 18 boxes of Smirnoff bottle closures, 8 boxes of Old Buck bottle closures and 1 box of Gordon’s bottle closures, the total estimated value of the seized goods was R307 840-40 The counterfeit goods were then handed over to brand representatives for analysis, which confirmed that the bottle closures were indeed counterfeit. No arrest has been made at this stage and investigation continues. The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General (Dr) Lesetja Senona extolled and congratulated the members for the good work. He further said that the discovery and confiscation of these counterfeit items represent a significant step forward in the fight against intellectual property infringement and the proliferation of counterfeit goods in KwaZulu-Natal. Ends
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