Border guards seize counterfeit goods worth R2.8M at Kosi Bay

Zuko Komisa

Two Mozambican men have been arrested at the Kosi Bay border post after Border Management Authority (BMA) guards discovered counterfeit goods worth an estimated R2.8 million hidden in their truck.
The seized items, confirmed as fake by the police, included branded trainers, Nike sandals, Louis Vuitton belts, and hookah pipe flavours.
This bust is part of the BMA’s ongoing campaign against illicit trade, which has seen over R2 million in counterfeit goods and cigarettes confiscated at various border posts since April.

Two men have been arrested and fake goods with an estimated value of more than R2.8 million have been confiscated at the Kosi Bay border post between South Africa and Mozambique.

The arrests were made on Monday by Border Management Authority (BMA) guards who stopped a truck entering South Africa for an inspection. The driver and his assistant, both Mozambicans, claimed the vehicle was transporting cooking pots and towels. However, a thorough inspection revealed a hidden stash of counterfeit products.

The confiscated items included 100 boxes of Afzal hookah pipe flavours, various branded trainers, over 1,000 pairs of Nike sandals, and Louis Vuitton belts. The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the goods were counterfeit. The suspects were taken into custody and charged under the Counterfeit Goods Act and the Tobacco Products Control Act.

BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato commended his officers for their vigilance, stating that the continuous seizures “demonstrate the BMA’s resolve to secure South Africa’s ports of entry against criminal syndicates.” He added that such counterfeit products not only harm legitimate businesses and reduce tax revenue but also compromise consumer safety.

This latest seizure is part of an ongoing clampdown on illicit trade. In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, the BMA has already seized counterfeit clothing and footwear valued at over R1 million, along with counterfeit cigarettes worth more than R1.1 million, at various border posts.

Dr Masiapato reaffirmed the BMA’s commitment to working with partners, including the SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), to dismantle illicit trade networks and protect the nation’s economy.