R27.5m worth of counterfeit goods seized from Gauteng shops this week [PICS]

Illicit and counterfeit goods, with an estimated value of R27.5 million, were seized this week during operations by the Gauteng Provincial Counterfeit Unit and brand protection experts. Product inspections were conducted between 20 and 23 July 2026 in areas including Sedibeng, West Rand, Tshwane and Johannesburg districts. On Monday, the team inspected four shops at six addresses in Orange Farm, Sedibeng.

During the search operation, members uncovered an illegal manufacturing and packaging operation of counterfeit snuff products. Authorities seized approximately 10 kilogrammes of counterfeit Taxi and Ntsu snuff, 1 500 empty containers, shrink labels, a heat gun and a sealing machine, estimated to be worth R10 000. The team conducted inspections at four shops in Carletonville, West Rand District, on Tuesday where authorities seized 2 877 counterfeit items, including cellphone accessories, consumables and clothing with an estimated value of R436 950.

Six shops were inspected in Hercules, Tshwane, on Wednesday, where authorities confiscated 1 874 items, including counterfeit consumables, jewellery, illicit poison, pharmaceutical products and illicit honey. One of the largest seizures of counterfeit products this year occurred on Thursday when members searched five storage units in Jeppe. In total, 567 320 counterfeit items were seized during the Jeppe operation in Joburg, amounting to an estimated value of R25.2 million. Across all four operations authorities apprehended more than 572 000 counterfeit and illicit items with a combined estimated value exceeding R27.5 million.