Sars seizes over R3m-worth of counterfeit sneakers

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) confiscated over R3 million worth of suspected counterfeit sneakers at the Lebombo border post last week.

Sars reported on its website that its Mpumalanga Tactical Interventions Unit (TIU) stopped a truck entering South Africa at the Lebombo border post for inspection last Tuesday. 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 a Sars spokesperson.

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 was liable for forfeiture,” said Sars.