Military busts multi-million-rand smuggling operation

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has intercepted counterfeit goods to the value of over R8.4 million in what it has called its “highest single success of the year.”

According to Captain Gontse Herminah Mogamisi, officials were conducting vehicle patrols near the Komatiepoort Port of Entry on the border with Mozambique when they were alerted to an abandoned truck by a passer-by.

The team, consisting of the 14 South African Infantry Battalion, Joint Tactical Headquarters Mpumalanga, and the Military Police officials of Bravo Company, then investigated the truck, parked at the N4 BP fuel station.

This formed part of Operation Corona, a national border safeguarding initiative aimed at protecting South Africa’s territorial integrity and combating transnational crimes along the country’s borders.

“They investigated and approached the white truck and activated their platoon commander,” Mogamisi said.

“After activating Lebombo Customs, the truck was driven by a SA Revenue Service official to their facility for assessment.”

According to authorities, the truck, which was transporting two carriages of cargo, was concealing thousands of pairs of branded sneakers and jeans.

These included:

• 4,146 pairs of Nike sneakers
• 1,287 pairs of Adidas sneakers
• 499 pairs of New Balance sneakers
• 251 pairs of Vans sneakers
• 235 pairs of Reebok sneakers
• 279 pairs of Nike Jordan sneakers
• 48 pairs of Lacoste sneakers
• 340 pairs of Diesel jeans
• 216 pairs of G-Star jeans

The SANDF did not confirm whether the clothing was counterfeit, but the estimated value of the cargo was R8.43 million.

However, it is most likely that the clothing is counterfeit, given that it is being smuggled and the frequency of similar busts.

At the end of October 2025, the Hawks seized R59 million worth of counterfeit products imitating well-known fashion brands, including Nike, Versace, and Gucci.

This was uncovered following a search and seizure operation conducted at a freight container depot in Durban, where authorities had identified a shipping container believed to be transporting counterfeit goods.

This comes just weeks after authorities dealt a R260 million blow to the illicit goods trade in South Africa when more than 100 shops were identified and targeted across the North West.

Police seized over 86,000 counterfeit items from stores in Coligny, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Ventersdorp, and Zeerust.

These included designer-branded clothing, sports apparel, footwear, bags, caps, toys, and consumables. Police also confiscated counterfeit medicines valued at more than R45,000.

However, it is not only international brands that are falling victim to counterfeit products being sold, but also local manufacturers.

In February 2025, a shop assistant was found to be selling counterfeit MaXhosa Africa items for R80 in the Johannesburg CBD, while the originals start at R17,500.

More than just clothes

While most of the major busts in recent weeks have led to the discovery of counterfeit clothing, the illicit consumables market in South Africa extends beyond textiles.

In October 2025, members of the Hawks uncovered an operation manufacturing counterfeit Smirnoff product in Howick.

Several sophisticated machines were found on the premises used in the production of counterfeit Smirnoff 1818 bottles.

This included a bottle-blowing machine, a high-pressure air compressor, an evaporating temperature machine, an industrial chiller, and fine compressor air filters.

The illicit alcohol industry demonstrates the rapid growth of these unregulated products, growing from R6.4 billion in value in 2017 to R16.5 billion in 2024.

It has become so prevalent that roughly one in five bottles of alcohol is illicit. These are mostly either counterfeit or smuggled into South Africa.

Illicit cigarettes have also been identified by authorities as a significant issue.

According to a study commissioned by the South African unit of British American Tobacco (BAT South Africa) and conducted by Ipsos, the country loses approximately R28 billion annually from the trade in illicit cigarettes.

In April 2024, the SA Tobacco Transformation Alliance (SATTA) estimated that South Africans smoked 37 billion cigarettes in 2023, yet SARS only collected tax on 13 billion.