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Gauteng police seize 17 796 illicit items worth R770 000
Gauteng police have seized 17 796 items valued at R770 589 during a series of operations targeting counterfeit and illicit trade across the province.
The five-day enforcement drive, conducted between Monday, 26 October, and Friday, 30 October 2026, covered Heidelberg, Orange Farm, Fordsburg and Brackendowns.
According to the South African Police Service, the seizures included counterfeit consumables, cellphone accessories, toys, textiles, illicit pharmaceutical products and seven air conditioners suspected to have been stolen.
The Gauteng Counterfeit Unit carried out the operations alongside brand protection representatives and other law enforcement units, with inspections at shops and a separate operation at a residential property.
The first operation took place on Monday, 26 October, when police inspected eight shops in Heidelberg in the Sedibeng District.
Officers confiscated 4 779 items with an estimated value of R500 490. These included counterfeit consumable products, cellphone accessories, toys and games, textiles, illicit poison, Honeyite products and illicit pharmaceutical goods.
The following day, the operation moved to Orange Farm, where five shops were visited. Police seized 1 029 items valued at R62 370, including counterfeit consumables, textiles, cellphone accessories, toys and games.
Nearly 12 000 items seized in Fordsburg
On Wednesday, 28 October, police conducted inspections at five shops in Fordsburg, within the Johannesburg District.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 11 981 counterfeit consumable items, with an estimated value of R137 729. This was the largest seizure by quantity across the four locations.
Seven suspected stolen air conditioners recovered
The final operation was conducted on Friday, 30 October, at a house in Brackendowns in the Ekurhuleni District.
Members of the Gauteng Counterfeit Unit, assisted by the Gauteng Anti-Hijacking Unit and a brand protection representative, seized seven Samsung air conditioners suspected to have been stolen.
The units were valued at approximately R70 000.
Unlike the shop inspections, this operation focused on suspected stolen property rather than counterfeit stock.
SAPS confirmed that all seized goods were confiscated for further investigation and that the relevant cases had been registered.
No arrests or further details about possible suspects were included in the statement.
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Source: SAPS
