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Police Seize R1 Million in Fake Sneakers on N4 Highway: Three Arrested in Mpumalanga
A Routine Stop That Exposed a Hidden Load
What started as an ordinary stop-and-search on the N4 outside Middelburg quickly turned into a million-rand counterfeit goods discovery. Police officers from the Middelburg Flying Squad intercepted a suspicious truck that appeared empty, but when they looked closer, what they found told a very different story.
Inside the vehicle were large boxes wrapped in black refuse bags and sealed with tape, each one packed with counterfeit footwear, from sneakers and slides to flip-flops and soccer boots, all imitating top international brands. The total haul is valued at around R1 million.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane confirmed that three suspects, aged between 30 and 38, were arrested at the scene. Two of them were women from Mozambique, and the third was the male driver of the truck.
A Clever Cover-Up Unravels
According to Ndubane, the Flying Squad had acted on intelligence that a truck was seen loading suspected illicit goods in Nelspruit and was en route to Johannesburg. When officers stopped the vehicle near the Middelburg Toll Plaza, the driver reportedly claimed the truck was empty.
Officers immediately found this suspicious. The vehicle was locked, yet the driver couldn’t provide any seal documentation to prove that the load was empty. When questioned further, he admitted to having given the two women a lift. The story began to fall apart when police insisted on inspecting the cargo.
Under layers of tape and black bags, the team uncovered 15 large boxes and 52 forensic bags filled with fake branded shoes and slides of various colours and sizes. The truck, along with its contents, was seized for further investigation.
Counterfeit Trade on the Rise
The counterfeit goods trade continues to be a growing concern in South Africa, particularly along key transport routes like the N4 that connect Mozambique and Gauteng. The illegal import and sale of fake fashion items not only affect legitimate businesses but also cost the local economy millions every year.
Police believe the seized footwear was likely destined for informal markets or unregulated retail outlets in Johannesburg. These operations are often part of larger syndicates that smuggle counterfeit goods across borders under false paperwork or through concealed shipments.
Court Date Pending
All three suspects have been charged with possession and dealing of counterfeit goods and are expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court soon. The investigation will also look into whether the suspects are linked to broader cross-border counterfeit operations.
For now, the successful bust serves as another warning that South African law enforcement is tightening its grip on counterfeit trade. As Ndubane put it, consistent intelligence work and road patrols are key to keeping illicit goods off the country’s shelves.
Also read: Double Killer Zaheera Boomgaard Sentenced to Life for Murder of Two Elderly Victims
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: The National Law Review
