Counterfeit goods worth an estimated R4.2 million – as well as cocaine to the value of R235 914 – were intercepted and confiscated by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) at OR Tambo International Airport (Ortia) last week.
According to a statement released by Sars yesterday (Tuesday), the counterfeit goods were discovered by Customs officials in ten bags and three boxes bound for Hong Kong via Nairobi. Three passengers have been linked to the goods.
The counterfeit goods included designer wrist watches, footwear and tracksuits.
Additionally, two passengers travelling from Sao Paolo had swallowed 49 cocaine “bullets”, collectively weighing 0.82 kilograms. “The two passengers were identified as drug mules and taken for [an] X-ray that revealed foreign objects in their abdomen,” said a Sars spokesperson.
All suspected passengers and goods were handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation.
