The South African Police Service (SAPS) confiscated counterfeit, contraband and non-compliant goods worth more than R5m during a three-day enforcement operation across Johannesburg.

The operation, conducted between July 13 and 15, was led by the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit in partnership with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and brand protection experts. It targeted businesses suspected of selling counterfeit goods and assessed compliance with legislation governing the sale and distribution of consumer products.

The first operation took place in Protea on July 13, where police inspected six shops and confiscated 633 items valued at about R157 270.

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The seized goods included 36 counterfeit pairs of shoes valued at over R15 300, counterfeit cellphone accessories worth R111 500, counterfeit consumables valued at R28 310 and 83 illicit poison products worth R2 160.

On July 14, the operation moved to Langlaagte, where SAPS and NRCS inspectors searched a warehouse and confiscated 35 781 non-compliant electrical goods with an estimated value of R4 709 345.

The final operation was conducted in Randburg on July 15, where officers inspected two shops and seized 1 446 items valued at R187 890.

The confiscated goods included 529 counterfeit consumables valued at R22 190, counterfeit toys worth R2 800 and 904 non-compliant electrical products valued at R162 900.

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In total, SAPS confiscated 37 860 counterfeit, contraband and non-compliant items with an estimated combined value of over R5m.

Police urged members of the public to report the sale or distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods to their nearest police station, the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111 or anonymously via the MySAPS app.