Luxury vehicles with fraudulent registration plates were impounded during a law enforcement operation in Parklands earlier this week, with Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis calling for stronger investigative powers to tackle organised crime.

The operation, led by the Mayor and the City’s Safety and Security Directorate, targeted vehicles suspected of using fake or non-existent licence registrations.

Hill-Lewis said one of the vehicles, a new silver Mercedes-Benz GLE, was found to be fraudulently registered as a white BMW. Mercedes-Benz GLE models range from roughly R1,970,000 to over R2,500,000.

“In Cape Town, you will often find ‘crypto’ and ‘forex’ traders driving fancy cars with fake registrations or none at all,” Hill-Lewis said in a post on social media.

The City’s JP Smith confirmed that two vehicles were impounded for displaying fraudulent licence registrations. They will remain at the City’s impound lot while investigations are completed and can only be released once the relevant fines and impound fees have been paid.

During the operation, City enforcement officers also arrested nine people for alleged immigration offences, one person for driving under the influence and another for possession of suspected stolen property.

All the suspects were handed over to the South African Police Service for further investigation.

In Cape Town you will often find “crypto” and “forex” traders driving fancy cars with fake registrations or none at all! 🚨

Tonight we impounded cars in Parklands without valid registrations ✅ In one case, a brand new silver Merc GLE was registered as a white BMW. Impounded for… pic.twitter.com/GTb1HbPpLi

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) July 7, 2026

Smith stressed that they do not have investigative powers and said it is up to SAPS to determine whether the vehicles are linked to any criminal activity.

He says similar law enforcement operations will continue across Cape Town, alongside roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and proactive patrols conducted independently or in partnership with SAPS.

Social media commentators lauded the City for the operation, calling on law enforcement to keep their focus on Parklands, alleging that Nigerian criminal networks and drug lords are running the area.

There have been allegations that syndicates involved in internet fraud, locally known as “Yahoo boys,” often rent properties in Parklands and surrounding areas to conduct cyber scams.

Thank-you for hearing us!!! 👏

This was only the tip of the iceberg. Table Bay Mall Virgin Active is a hotspot for the drug money Lambos and McClarrens.

— Ava in Africa (@AvainAfrica) July 7, 2026

Crypto and forex? Get out of here. Those people are online scammers and drug dealers.

— Buccaneer (@BuccaneerRsa) July 7, 2026

Great work Geordin. Now please also deep dive into their landlords who were accepting money for rent, while knowing that they are undocumented.

That is harbouring illegal immigrants and can be interpreted as aiding and abetting.

We look forward to your update

— 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝒢𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈 (@WakingTheUnwoke) July 7, 2026