Chinese nationals who are conniving with hawkers to sell counterfeit goods could face deportation. They were arrested in a raid that left Chinese shops and warehouses closed. 
Chinese shops continue to sell counterfeit items such as Polo, Nike, Levi’s, Lacoste and other brands. This is despite a raid during which millions of Pula worth of goods were confiscated in the past few months.
The Criminal Investigation Department ‘s Assistant Commissioner, Kesetsenao Tshweneitsile, has warned Chinese nationals that those found conniving with hawkers to sell such items on their behalf ┬áwill ┬ábe deported.
The CID boss has sent strong warning this week after they received information that the Chinese shops that are mostly run by Chinese nationals were using Batswana to sell fake clothing garments.
Tshweneitsile further said after previous raids Chinese shops are no longer selling such items but have resorted to giving the responsibility to Batswana hawkers to sell such clothes on their behalf.
He further stated that information reaching the CID indicates that these counterfeit clothing garments are kept in rural villages.
“They are no longer keeping these fake clothing items in warehouses around Gaborone. We have information that the clothing garments that are imported in large numbers are kept in villages where they are sold by hawkers on behalf of Chinese shops. We have been operating on the ground and such people should know that they are committing an offence that could result in them being deported,” added Tshweneetsile.
A raid was mounted countrywide in the last few months where tonnes of counterfeit garments were seized from Chinese shops and warehouses.
 Some of the South African companies that own the brands had accused the country of supporting the sale of brands linked to organized crime.
Tshweneetsile indicated that the raid was targeted to seize the counterfeit brands as the country’s image was tainted for harbouring those who sell counterfeit brands.
The raid, according to him, was undertaken after Botswana was accused of not respecting the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) which is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization.
 He asserted that the raid was also important as the country continues to lose import duties and tax from fraudulent people selling counterfeits brands.
The Assistant Commissioner indicated that most of the clothing items came from as far as Thailand, Taiwan and China.
  A legal advisor to LA Group, one of the affected South African companies, Rae James, has praised Botswana for moving in a good direction by seizing products that are related to organized crime.
He said Batswana should not support the counterfeit brands.
“The importers are continually adapting to the anti-counterfeiting measures and we and the authorities have to be pro-active, vigilant and committed to fighting counterfeit products, no matter which product or brand. And consumers have to be aware that buying counterfeit products may be cheap but the cost in terms of lost revenue and supporting organized crime is high,” he added.
