The SA Police Service National Counterfeit Goods Unit, in collaboration with other crime-fighting partners, seized counterfeit goods worth more than R8 million and arrested 18 suspects in the Free State last week.
Saps spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said they had made the bust during a raid of a shopping complex on Pine Avenue in Fordsburg.
Police were joined by officials from the South African Revenue Service (Sars), National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, Brand Protectors, Crime Prevention Wardens and private security officers as they executed a search and seizure warrant in terms of the Customs and Excise Act.
“The operation resulted in the seizure of 10 000 counterfeit items as well as labels and packaging imitating well-known brands. Large quantities of counterfeit branded cellphone accessories such as covers, batteries, chargers and earphones were also found inside purpose-built hidden storages,” Van Wyk said.
The suspects are illegal foreigners of different nationalities who were charged with contravening the Immigration Act, while one suspect was also charged for contravening the Cyber Crimes Act.
