Randfontein police have seized more than 1 600 counterfeit and illicit products as part of a provincial crackdown targeting illegal goods.

The operation, conducted on Friday, August 28, saw members of the Gauteng Counterfeit Unit and a brand protector visit four shops in Randfontein as authorities stepped up efforts to remove illegal products from the market.

A total of 1 605 items, with an estimated value of R93 920, were seized during the operation. Among the goods confiscated were 826 counterfeit consumable products valued at R29 600, 100 counterfeit toys valued at R10 000 and 679 illicit honey products valued at R54 320.

The Randfontein operation formed part of a series of multidisciplinary operations carried out across Gauteng between August 25 and 28.

According to Gauteng Police Corporate Communication officer Mpho Ramabulana, the operations aimed to combat the distribution and sale of counterfeit, contraband and illicit goods, while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.

Other operations took place in Boksburg, Brixton and Alrode.

In Boksburg, 10 205 items valued at R129 450 were seized, including more than 10 000 counterfeit consumable products, counterfeit toys and illicit pharmaceutical products.

A search-and-seizure operation in Brixton resulted in the confiscation of 16 540 counterfeit products, estimated to be worth R590 000.

The largest seizure was recorded in Alrode, where the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications detained 12 470 items with an estimated value of R5.83m, including pre-packed noodles and locally and internationally produced noodle packaging.

Several other regulatory interventions were carried out during the Alrode operation, including notices issued by the Department of Employment and Labour and an infringement notice from the Department of Home Affairs relating to the employment of foreign nationals without valid work permits.

Across all four operations, authorities seized or detained goods with a combined estimated value of R6.64m.