The National Counterfeit Goods Unit has raided a counterfeit goods manufacturing operation in the Johannesburg CBD and seized a wide range of fake branded products from clothes and handbags to perfumes.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the multidisciplinary team had led the integrated take-down operation in Rahima Moosa Street to disrupt and dislodge the illicit trade in counterfeit goods.
The operation resulted in the seizure of over 7000 counterfeit items with an estimated value of R6.6 million. These items, imitating well known brands, included shoes, clothing, handbags, caps, perfumes, cosmetics and backpacks, van Wyk said.
Police also seized sewing machines, an overlocker, an embossing machine, a hot press and a large quantity of labels of popular brands. This is the biggest counterfeit manufacturing plant bust in the past year, she added.
The team comprised of members of SAPS, officials from the South African Revenue Services, Gauteng Traffic, Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, brand protectors, crime prevention wardens and private security officers.
Earlier this month the team seized counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R5.8m during a similar takedown operation in the Johannesburg CBD.
Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free. Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.
