A 40-year-old truck driver was arrested by the Hawks’ Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation together with members of Lebombo Border Police on Saturday for smuggling counterfeit goods into the country.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said the suspect will be charged for contravening the provisions of Section 83(a) & (b) of the Customs and Excise Act, Act 91 of 1964.
Contravening the provisions of Section 2(1)(f) read with Sections 1,2(2),10,16,19, & and 20 of the Counterfeit Goods Act, Act 37 of 1997.
It is alleged that on Saturday, the driver, who was driving a Volvo truck was entering the Lebombo Port of Entry, from Mozambique into the Republic of South Africa.
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The truck and trailers were stopped and searched.
During the search, counterfeit goods (tekkies) with an estimated street value of R2 million were found loaded on the trailers.
The driver was arrested and detained, pending his court appearance.
The truck and trailers, together with the counterfeit goods were taken to SARS Customs warehouse at Komatipoort for safekeeping.
The accused remains in custody and will appear before the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 06 November 2023. – SAPS
