The South African Police Service (SAPS) in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies have impounded counterfeit and illicit goods worth over R11 Million.
The operation targeted 18 shops within a bustling shopping centre in the heart of Fordsburg, Johannesburg. It was led by the SAPS’ National Counterfeit unit.
The April 4 operation saw the agencies seize a cache of counterfeit and illicit merchandise valued at over R11 million.
Additionally, over R40,000 in abandoned cash was recovered from the premises.
The spokesperson for SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the operation was a collaborative effort involving various crime-fighting partners.
“The team that executed a search and seizure warrant comprised of SAPS members, officials from the Department of Home Affairs, South African Revenue Services (SARS), Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), Gauteng Traffic Saturation unit, Brand Protectors, Crime Prevention Wardens and private security,” stated Van Wyk.
Law enforcement agents confiscated more than 8000 items passed on as popular brands, including cellphone chargers, cellphone covers, counterfeit labels, and even entire cellphones.
In a different development, authorities in collaboration with a Brand Protector, acted on actionable intelligence leading to another successful raid on April 3. This operation resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R15 million.