Seven police officers arrested for attempting to resell counterfeit goods after #JoburgRaids
JOBURG CBD – The Gauteng police conducted a wide-ranging raid in the Joburg CBD, confiscating thousands of counterfeit goods worth around R250 million and arresting hundreds of foreign nationals on 7 August.
After the much publicised Joburg raids on 8 August that saw more than 560 foreign nationals arrested and thousands of counterfeit goods confiscated, seven police officers have been arrested for corruption and defeating the ends of justice for attempting to resell the good to illegal traders.
The police officers were arrested by their own colleagues, spokesperson for the Police Minister, Vuyo Mhaga said in a statement. “In the first incident, a warrant officer and four constables were arrested at Johannesburg Central Police Station after they were caught attempting to resell confiscated goods back to the illegal traders.”
Some of the confiscated items included six rifles, six pistols, four shotguns and hundreds of ammunition of varying calibres were found in one room on the 12th floor of Medical One Shopping Centre in Rahima Moosa Street. “A suspect was arrested for possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition. The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine possible usage in the commission of a crime,” Mhaga explained.
Mhage said large consignments of counterfeit goods included clothing and sneakers were found in different buildings. “The counterfeit goods will be disposed of in a similar manner as the last public disposal of over R500 million worth of counterfeit goods in April this year.”
City of Joburg tweeted that the total amount of counterfeit goods seized amounted to R250 million.
Preliminary Report on yesterday's #JoburgRaid. Well done to all law enforcement teams involved ^NS pic.twitter.com/XVx9oT4xpl
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) August 8, 2019
In the second incident, two members of the Tactical Response Team were arrested after police investigated a possible leak of information about the planned operation in Joburg central.
Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the work by the police, crime intelligence and anti-corruption unit. The commissioner said, “We certainly hope that the arrest of seven of our own will prove to the people of Gauteng that we are serious about eradicating crime, even if it means arresting our own. No one is above the law.”
A video online showing people throwing counterfeit goods outside of their windows in apartment buildings in Joburg CBD before the raid was misleading. Gauteng police spokesperson Kay Makbhuele said, “It was police officers throwing the goods out the window during the raids not occupants in the building before the raids.”
HOW THE PEOPLE OF JOBURG GOT RID OF EVIDENCE BEFORE BEING RAIDED BY POLICE… pic.twitter.com/kMe8zNXbof
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) August 8, 2019
Related articles:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/239262/police-arrest-30-suspects-selling-counterfeit-goods-joburg-cbd/
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/234513/group-traders-fight-back-police-confiscate-counterfeit-goods/
