Gauteng police seize R13m worth of counterfeit goods in Joburg CBD, arrest five suspects
Several locations in Johannesburg’s inner city were raided by officials, where over 18,000 counterfeit items were seized.
Some of the counterfiet items seized by Gauteng police in Johannesburg's CBD on 7 February 2024. Picture: X/SAPoliceService
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police seized counterfeit goods to the value of R13 million and arrested five undocumented suspects during a sting operation in the City of Johannesburg.
On Wednesday, officials raided multiple locations in the inner city where over 18,000 counterfeit items such as clothing apparel, shoes, bags and watches were seized.
During the operation, the team also dismantled a hidden manufacturing plant and storage facility where fake goods were distributed to shops in and around Johannesburg.
"At this location, police seized large quantities of counterfeit items, including a computer hard drive, silk screening, and laser cutting machines," said the police’s Amanda van Wyk.
"The South African Police Service [SAPS] continues to make inroads by dislodging and dismantling the illicit trade in counterfeit goods, which has a detrimental impact on the economic growth of the country due to lost revenue."