Police seize R5m fake World Cup gear

Counterfeit World Cup merchandise and fake Premier Soccer League goods worth R5 million were seized when three men were arrested in central Durban on Wednesday.

Among the goods confiscated at a warehouse in Bertha Mkhize (Victoria) Street were soccer jerseys and tracksuit jackets for South Africa, Brazil and England. The items bore all the relevant Fifa branding and those of the teams' respective sponsors.

Police crime intelligence and customs officials arrested three people in connection with the haul.

They have been charged with contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act and are to appear in court on Thursday.

Sibabalwenathi Mfabe, spokesman for the SA Revenue Service's customs office, said a tip-off about a truck delivering "suspicious goods" to a warehouse had led to the arrests and seizures.

Customs officials and police visited the warehouse and found the truck being offloaded.

"We cannot say where the goods come from, as the owners of the warehouse failed to provide us with any documentation," he said.

Mfabe said more such cases were expected as the World Cup drew closer. "We expect more people to take a chance (trading in counterfeit 2010 gear) and we are ready," he said.

Mfabe said people should report suspicious activities to the fraud and anti-corruption hotline, 0800 00 28 70.

Customs officials said Wednesday's haul took to R43m the value of counterfeit Fifa and 2010 merchandise seized across the country since the beginning of the year.

• This article was originally published on page 4 of The Mercury on March 18, 2010