SARS confiscates counterfeit sneakers

Stuart Miles via freedigitalphotos.net

On Tuesday, SARS' Mpumalanga Tactical Interventions Unit (TIU) stopped a truck entering South Africa at the Lebombo border post for inspection. Documentation handed over to SARS officials indicated that the truck was transporting wheat and bran.

"On further inspection, officials discovered 150 boxes of suspected counterfeit branded sneakers among the declared consignment of wheat and bran. This amounted to a total of 4,262 pairs of suspected counterfeit sneakers with an estimated street value of R3.4 million," said the revenue service.

The suspected counterfeit goods included 1,918 pairs of Nike, 1,226 pairs of Adidas, 602 pairs of Puma and 516 pairs of All Stars.

"The sneakers were detained pending Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) verification. The truck was also detained to determine if it is liable for forfeiture."

Influx of counterfeit goods

This follows another recent interception of counterfeit sneakers at the Lebombo border post.

On 13 May 2015, members of Customs' Detector Dog Unit searched a truck which had been declared empty - but instead found 85 boxes of All Star sneakers hidden in a false compartment. This action resulted in prevention of 2,040 pairs of sneakers valued at R1,632,000 from entering South Africa.

SARS said that in the past year, the Lebombo border post has experienced an influx of counterfeit goods, with customs involved in up to 1,009 detections of goods valued at R23.7 million.

"Regardless of attempts to deceive SARS officials by concealing illicit goods entering South African ports, vigilant and alert officials continue to intercept such consignments. SARS will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that illicit and counterfeit goods are prevented from entering or leaving our country."