Gauteng police recently made a significant seizure of counterfeit and illicit goods in Johannesburg, with a total value exceeding R66 million. The operation also resulted in the arrest of four Malawian nationals for contravening the Immigration Act.
Led by the Gauteng and National Counterfeit Goods Unit, Crime Intelligence, Saps’ Chemical Control Unit, the South African Revenue Services (Sars), Brand Protectors, and private security, the joint task force executed a search and seizure warrant at a shopping mall and a self-storage facility in Johannesburg CBD. Over 190,000 counterfeit and illicit items were confiscated, including clothing, shoes, belts, cosmetics, cigarettes, liquor, and illicit pharmaceuticals like skin lightening products.
Among the seized items, bottles of “illicit poison” were also discovered inside the storage facilities, raising concerns about food safety and public health. The Department of Agriculture assisted in identifying these hazardous products to prevent potential foodborne illnesses.
The police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk, emphasized the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit goods to protect consumers, legitimate businesses, and the economy of the country.
In a separate incident, the Hawks conducted a raid in Mpumalanga, seizing counterfeit goods worth over R10 million from a storage facility in the White River industrial area. Two Ethiopian nationals were arrested in connection with the operation, and large sums of money were confiscated from the suspects’ vehicles.
These actions highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to crack down on the trade of counterfeit and illicit goods, safeguarding public safety and economic interests. The successful operations in Gauteng and Mpumalanga serve as a warning to criminals involved in such illicit activities that they will face consequences for their actions.
