The police announced that confiscated counterfeit goods worth over R19 million and in the meantime arrested six foreign nationals during separate takedown operations in Blemfontein this week.

Lt Col Amanda van Wyk said the operations were led by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit,with support from members of Public Order Policing(POP) in Bloemfontein,officials from the South African Revenue Service(SARS) Customs division,brand protectors, and private security personnel.Search and seizure warrants were executed in accordance with the Customs and Excise Act at targeted shops in the Bloemfontein CBD.

She mentioned that the confiscated goods were imitations of high-end luxury brands and arrested foreign nationals for breaking immigration law.

"Over the course of two days,more than 13 000 counterfeit items were confiscated that included clothing,shoes,bags,and jewellery.Majority of the seized items are imitations of high-end luxury brands.

"Six foreign national were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act.One of the suspects is also facing an additional charge for resisting arrest.

The SAPS remains committed to disrupting and dismantling the illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit goods in order to protect consumers,safeguard legitimate businesses,and support the South African economy,"concluded Lt Col Amanda van Wyk.

In a separate case,the 37-year-old Zimbabwean national was sentenced to six years of direct imprisonment for theft of motor vehicle which was arrested while was trying to smuggle to Zimbabwe on December last year.

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Mokopane Regional Court has imposed six years of direct imprisonment against a 37-year-old accused for possession of stolen motor vehicle recovered in Mokopane on 29 December 2024.

Col Ledwaba revealed that the police arrested the suspect in Limpopo after they received an intel about a suspected stolen motor vehicle which was heading to Beitbridge from Gauteng province.

"His sentence came after the theft of motor vehicle,Toyota Corolla Cross MVP was reported stolen in Gauteng province Brakpan SAPS in 2024.

"Limpopo Provincial anti-smuggling team received intelligence information about a suspected stolen motor vehicle from Gauteng province driving along N1,en route to Beitbridge Border Port of Entry to be smuggled to Zimbabwe.

"The team operationalized the lookout information,and the vehicle matching the description was spotted driving along N1 next to Zebediela Toll Plaza where it was cornered.

The driver was arrested for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.Meanwhile,the motor vehicle was confiscated for further investigations,"he added.

He mentioned that the suspect was sentenced on Friday and his conviction was applauded by even the SAPS leadership in the province of Limpopo.

"On Friday,27 June 2025,the Mokopane Regional Court found the accused,Joseph Kungwengwe,37 guilty and sentenced him to six years of direct imprisonment for possession of stolen motor vehicle.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo,Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has applauded the Provincial Anti-smuggling team for their sterling work to prevent smuggling of motor vehicles,"he concluded.