The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigating Unit busted a large-scale washing powder manufacturing and distribution facility last Friday.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the unit, with assistance from brand protectors, Spoor & Fisher Attorneys and members of Public Order Policing (POP) from Springs, executed a search-and-seizure disruptive operation in terms of the Counterfeit Goods Act 37 of 1997, at premises in Selection Park, Springs, on Friday.
“A disruptive search operation was preceded by an in-depth investigation into the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit washing powder at the said premises. Samples of the counterfeit products were purchased while the Intellectual Property Rights Section of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based at the Hawks’ head office were carrying out their preliminary investigation along with brand protectors,” said Nkwalase.
Nkwalase said that the Hawks team found machinery as well as an industrial sifting machine, unbranded washing powder along with counterfeit labels bearing well-known trademarks of various proprietors, sodium, filled and empty buckets, an electronic scale, colouring and dye, which was seized for further investigation.
“The combined value of all the goods seized has not yet been established. Criminal and civil process are under way against a 42-year-old suspect, and he will also be served with a summons to appear at the Springs Magistrate’s court for contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act 37 of1997 once all investigations are concluded,” said Nkwalase.
Last year similar operations that included Interpol led to the identification of 179 suspects and to the seizure of products worth about $3.5 million (almost R54m).
“Operation Afya II, which ended last month, saw more than 4 000 inspections carried out at warehouses, storerooms, pharmacies and other premises in rural areas, triggering more than 300 investigations across the 10 participating countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe,” according to Interpol.
The operation unearthed criminal activity and removed from the markets counterfeit products and illicit medicines that are potentially harmful. Almost 40 000 illicit medical products were seized during the operation.
In the South African part of the operation, authorities arrested seven suspects and seized counterfeit goods and manufacturing equipment worth almost $1m in one inspection alone; 48 suspects were intercepted in the country during the operation.