SAPS seize counterfeit goods worth more than R30m during weekend operations
Police in Gauteng seized counterfeit goods worth more than R30 million and arrested more than 690 wanted suspects during high-density operations that were conducted over the weekend.
Teams of law enforcement agencies under the command of the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, continued with the crime combating operations in Johannesburg and tracing of wanted suspects in Gauteng. The operation that started in Johannesburg Central on Thursday, 29 June 2023, continued in Hillbrow on Saturday, 01 July 2023, to squeeze the space for criminals.
The operations focused mostly on the suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes such as rape, robbery, hijackings, possession of unlicensed firearms, dealing in drugs, and murder. Two hundred and nineteen (219) of these suspects were arrested in Johannesburg District, while two hundred and ten (210) were arrested in Tshwane District. Detectives in Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, and West Rand Districts arrested more than two hundred and seventy (270) suspects who have been on the run after committing serious and violent crimes.
A roadblock as well as stop-and-searches were conducted on roads in and around Hillbrow and Braamfontein on Saturday night. Several liquor outlets were closed down as they were operating without permits, and owners arrested for contravention of Liquor Act.
More than three hundred (300) suspects were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol across the province over the weekend and more than 350 undocumented persons were nabbed and later processed by the officials from Department of Home Affairs.
Police, together with other law enforcement agencies, continued with raiding the buildings and shops in Johannesburg CBD, where counterfeit goods are stored and sold. Counterfeit goods that include clothes, sneakers, and bags worth 30 million rand were confiscated.
The arrested suspects are expected to appear at different Magistrate Courts in due course.