The South African Police Service in Gauteng and other law enforcement agencies, which include the Gauteng Traffic Police, City of Johannesburg Emergency Services, ER24 and personnel of Brand Managers Owners, executed a joint search operation in Johannesburg CBD and recovered counterfeit goods to the value of an estimated R26 million and more than R400 000 cash on Friday, 13 March 2020.
Four suspects were arrested and charged with possession of illicit cash, while two hundred and two suspects were arrested in Ekurhuleni for various crimes ranging from illegal immigrants, theft, kidnapping, murder, robbery, rape and other serious and violent crimes.
Police operationalised information regarding an illegal trade operation in a building in Johannesburg at the corner of Jeppe and Von Willich Street in Johannesburg CBD. On arrival at the building, police discovered different kinds of branded clothing and footwear of international sports and luxury clothing brands.
The clothing were confirmed as counterfeits by the brand experts and the preliminary calculations came to an estimated value of R26 million.
Furthermore, in Honeydew eighty undocumented citizens were arrested during operation Okae Molao in a road block in Cosmo city and three stolen motor vehicles were recovered. In Tshwane suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms, others for possession of drugs and liquor outlets were closed, fines were issued.
Meanwhile, in Sedibeng District police also conducted roadblocks during the operation. Four suspects were arrested for drugs and six illegal liquor outlets were closed, four schools were also visited.
In the West Rand police arrested suspects for various crimes ranging from robbery, rape, driving under the influence of alcohol, theft, and other crimes.
All arrested suspects are expected to appear in different Magistrate’s Courts in Gauteng in due course.
Gauteng police management urged the community to continue to work with the police in the fight against crimes by continuing to give information which leads to the arrests of the criminals.
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