The Hawks have seized industrial welding accessories worth more than R1m during an intelligence-driven raid in Luipaardsvlei on April 16.

According to West Rand Flying Squad spokesperson Karen du Plessis, the operation was carried out by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, specifically its Intellectual Property Rights team, in collaboration with brand representatives.

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Authorities acted on information received via a law firm indicating that a company in the area was allegedly distributing counterfeit Hypertherm products while using concealment methods to evade detection.

“After securing a search and seizure warrant, the team executed a raid at the identified warehouse, where they discovered and confiscated 3 236 units of suspected counterfeit goods,” said Du Plessis.

The items included industrial welding components such as electrodes, water tubes, shields and branded packaging.

The seized goods are now subject to further investigation as authorities work to determine the full extent of the operation, including the source of the counterfeit products and any distribution networks.

The bust highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat intellectual property crime and protect both consumers and legitimate businesses from the risks associated with counterfeit equipment.