Cape Town police have arrested three Somali nationals accused of operating a fake passport factory in Bellville.
Cape Town police crackdown on Somali nationals printing fake passports in Bellville
The arrests were part of a broader operation targeting the illegal trade of counterfeit goods, which led to the confiscation of fake items valued at R5.1 million.
“During the operation, three Somalian men in their mid-thirties were arrested. One of them, a 36-year-old man, was found inside a shop fronting as a copy shop, where members confiscated a substantial amount of cash, passports, photos, certificates, including birth, asylum, death, refugee certificates and vehicle licences, affidavits and a money counting machine,” stated police spokesperson Lt Col Malcolm Pojie.
The operation, which involved members of SAPS, Customs, Home Affairs, and brand protectors, began with a search warrant at a shopping complex near the Bellville taxi rank.
“Most of the stores were found abandoned upon the arrival of SAPS members, but this did not deter the operation,” added Pojie.
The suspects face charges relating to the possession of counterfeit goods and fraud and are scheduled to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ Court.
“More charges might be added as the investigation by the Provincial Detective’s Commercial branch unfolds,” Pojie mentioned.
The production and distribution of fake passports in South Africa are serious offences with stringent penalties.
Under South Africa’s criminal law, specifically the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act, individuals involved in the creation and distribution of forged passports can face severe legal consequences.
These include substantial fines and lengthy prison sentences, reflecting the gravity of this crime and its implications for national security and immigration control.
