Five men appear for possession of illicit goods
The suspects, Ricardo Martin (33), Ligolunkwu Obisili (37), Thabo Vusi Mthembu (23), Zenzele Mathe (31) and Sibusiso Ndlovu (33) were remanded in custody until 06 February 2018 at the same court for further investigation.
Five men aged between 23 and 37, appeared at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being found in possession of counterfeit goods in Mkhondo (formerly Piet Retief).
The suspects were arrested on Monday at approximately 06:45, after police received a tip-off about the counterfeit goods that were being transported from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng.
The team responded to the tip-off, spotted and stopped the three vehicles fitting the description given as they approached. During the search, police discovered that the vehicles were loaded with illicit goods, clothing and sneakers. The five suspects, three drivers and two passengers, were arrested on the spot.
Also read: Swazi nationals appear in court for illegal goods
Meanwhile, another load of illicit goods was found abandoned in the bushes not very far from the Lebombo Port of Entry by a passer-by who then alerted the police. The police proceeded to the scene and they discovered the loot wrapped in black refuse bags comprising of various brands of fake sneakers. The combined estimated street value of the loot is over R3 million.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, hailed the community for alerting the police, thereby displaying active citizenship and selflessness.
