MALALANE – According to Malalane SAPS spokesman, Lt Bheki Nkosi, police were conducting a random search of bus and taxi commuters when the illegally branded clothing was found.
“There was a taxi that was parked at the parking bay at Sasol and while we were busy conducting car searches, we realised something was wrong with this particular one. As we started approaching the taxi, it started reversing and we stopped it,” Nkosi explained. The suspect inside had two bags with him.
“We asked to search them, that was when we found sealed Polo, Calvin Klein, AX, brand-clothing labelled T-shirts, along with other brand-name shoes. We then asked him for receipts of the goods, or a receipt from SARS authorising importation. After failing to produce any of these, he was arrested and taken into custody. The T-shirts are valued at R15 000 and the shoes are worth R3000,”Nkosi said.
He calls on the community to support police officers in the fight against illegal trading of any nature.
“We encourage the community to report such illegal transactions because they damage our economy. We won’t let the economy of the county go down on our watch, ”he said.
The suspect appeared before the Komatipoort Periodic Court on Tuesday, but at the time of going to print, the outcome of his court appearance had yet not been established.
