Police and other law enforcement agencies are confident that millions of rand worth of counterfeit goods are removed from the market, as another major operation have dealt a hard blow to the sellers in Dragon City, Fordsburg.
Several brands including clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery and cosmetics were removed today as these operations are continuing.
More than 15 people were arrested in today’s raids for offences ranging from possession of counterfeit goods to being illegal immigrants, illegal electricity connections were cut by Joburg City Power, while the estimated value of the seized goods is more than R10 million.
Law enforcement agencies comprising of SA Police Service, brand owners, SA revenue officials and Metro police embarked on a joint operation following crime intelligence information that several stores or shops were engaged in selling counterfeit goods.
As goods were being removed from the shops some of the owners locked storerooms and police had to break them open to seize the goods. Confiscated goods were removed and taken as exhibits. More information is being followed to deal with the influx of counterfeit goods from abroad and locally manufactured goods.
These raids are a continuation of several operations that have been carried out in and around Johannesburg Central where goods worth millions were confiscated and several undocumented people were arrested. Police are targeting more areas in Johannesburg and surrounding towns.
The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended the involvement of various role players in dealing with the sale of counterfeit goods that affect the economy of this country.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
