Counterfeit Black Rhino Wheels Seized by Police in Multiple Raids
TSW alloy wheels the owner of the Black Rhino brand today announced the culmination of many months of investigation resulting in multiple raids conducted in South Africa by local authorities together with industry experts representing the Black Rhino Wheels brand. Counterfeit wheels of similar design to Black Rhino wheels and counterfeit wheels bearing the Black Rhino trademark were identified and seized.
BREA, Calif., Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- TSW alloy wheels the owner of the Black Rhino brand today announced the culmination of many months of investigation resulting in multiple raids conducted in South Africa by local authorities together with industry experts representing the Black Rhino Wheels brand. Counterfeit wheels of similar design to Black Rhino wheels and counterfeit wheels bearing the Black Rhino trademark were identified and seized.
The raid was conducted with the assistance of the Provincial Commercial Crime Unit of the South African Police Service. These operations were conducted in terms of duly obtained search and seizure warrants. There are currently civil and criminal cases pending against these perpetrators, preventing the release of their identities.
TSW would like to caution the aftermarket industry on the extreme dangers of the counterfeit wheels seized. The wheels in question are not grey market goods, they are counterfeit goods of such a deeply inferior quality that they pose a clear and imminent threat to those who drive on them. They bear a resemblance and are similar in style to the famous Black Rhino-branded wheels – in a deliberate attempt to mislead retailers and consumers alike. These wheels have been found to be unequal to the task of carrying anywhere near the load of the vehicles they are supposedly rated for, and for which their bolt holes are configured, and their center bores machined. This renders them extremely unsafe for use on the majority of vehicles they are likely to be installed on.
Terence Scheckter, President of TSW, commented, "TSW values the safety of its customers through rigorous engineering and testing methods to ensure proper wheel load ratings. As such, the prevalence of counterfeit wheels carrying the Black Rhino brand will not be tolerated and violators will be sought after and prosecuted at the fullest extent of the law."
The raid followed a multi-month investigation in which investigators identified multiple distributors as a source of counterfeit wheels in South Africa bearing the Black Rhino wheel trademark. These goods are currently being held in a counterfeit goods depot for safekeeping, pending their destruction. The diligent pursuit of sellers of these counterfeit wheels continues in full force.
For more information on TSW, please visit http://www.tsw.com.
For more information on Black Rhino Wheels, please visit http://www.blackrhinowheels.com.
SOURCE TSW Alloy Wheels
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