A 48-Year-old Chinese national man from Western Cape was arrested and is expected to appear in court once charged.
The arrest came after the Western Cape Provincial Counterfeit Illicit Contraband Good task team embarked on a counterfeit operation in the Strand policing zone in pursuit of information, they received related to dealing in counterfeit, illicit and illegal goods and the breaking of the Liquor Act 50/2003.
The police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said a tip-off led them to a liquor store in Abbeglen Street on Monday 17 June at around 13:00.
They followed with a search and discovered fake liquor worth estimated street value of R450,000.
Furthermore, last week Wednesday, another Chinese man was arrested when police removed R24 million worth of fake alcohol in Eersterivier Cape Town. He was allegedly dealing illegal alcohol and he was scheduled to appear in Bellville Magistrate Court this week.
“Multidisciplinary efforts to stop the illegal trading of counterfeit goods which impact on the economy of South Africa yielded success, when police members executed counterfeit operations in Eersteriver,” said Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has previously estimated that the illicit trade of alcohol and tobacco costs the economy R100 billion annually in lost activity and tax collection. He also highlighted that illicit trade costs South Africa R250 million daily.
Authorities urge public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities related to counterfeit goods.