SAPS busts over R66m in counterfeit goods in Johannesburg operation
The SAPS and its partners confiscated illicit items like clothing, cosmetics and dangerous pharmaceuticals.
In a major operation this week, the SAPS and a coalition of crime-fighting agencies seized over R66m worth of counterfeit and illicit goods in Johannesburg.
The November 26 operation involved the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Goods Unit, SAPS Operational Response Services (ORS), Crime Intelligence and other partners.
Authorities confiscated over 190 000 counterfeit items, including clothing, shoes, belts, cosmetics, cigarettes and liquor and illicit pharmaceuticals, including dangerous skin-lightning products and bottles of illicit poison.
The SAPS found these toxic substances in storage facilities, and they are believed to pose significant risks to public health.
The operation also saw the arrest of four Malawian nationals for violating the Immigration Act because the authorities found evidence of illegal activity linked to the storage and distribution of illicit goods.
In an additional effort to protect consumers, officials from the Department of Agriculture helped identify dangerous and unregulated products, such as illicit poison, which could lead to foodborne illnesses if eaten.
The operation is part of a broader effort by the SAPS and its partners to combat the growing problem of counterfeit and illicit goods in SA. These items, often sold at cut-rate prices, undermine legitimate businesses, pose health risks to consumers and contribute to the informal economy that can hinder growth and stability.
“The successful takedown is a clear indication of our commitment to protecting SA consumers and safeguarding the integrity of our economy,” said a spokesperson for the SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk.
Van Wyk said that with their dedicated partners, they will continue to target these illegal networks, ensuring counterfeit goods do not find their way into our communities.
The operation also saw support from the SARS, Customs, Crime Prevention Wardens, the Departments of Home Affairs and Agriculture and private security companies.
