Midrand police officers confiscated counterfeit goods during a raid of shops in Halfway House, Midrand on 15 January.
Sergeant Matome Tlamela, spokesperson for the Midrand Police Station said the officers were busy doing rounds in the morning when they came across two stores, one selling fake branded clothes and another, illegal alcohol.
“During the course of the compliance inspection, our officers went to the first store which is a registered and legal restaurant and liquor shop, opposite the Boulders Taxi Rank in Halfway House.
“The officers saw patrons drinking illegal alcohol and asked them where they got it, to which they referred them to the shop which sells it. On arrival at the shop, they got behind the counter, which is when they noticed that there was some unusual alcohol as well as that which the people outside were drinking.”
Tlamela said the officers confirmed that the alcohol brands were not certified by the South African Bureau of Standards and not South African Brewery compliant.
She added that the team of officers also visited a store selling clothes in Halfway House where they found that it was selling fake branded clothes, shoes and bags, as it is not a franchise store.
Compliance officer Constable Enock Mnisi said measures will be taken because these products are bad for the economy and thus causes people to lose their jobs. “We confiscated the products and have communicated with the South African Customs Union to take measures, and as for the alcohol, we decided to remove the illegal alcohol from the premises after communicating with the Liquor Board, and put them in our storage for further investigations.”
Mnisi added, “At the moment we have issued the shop owner of the liquor store with a warning to appear in court to answer to the allegations of non-compliance because these products are not regulated.”
Tlamela urged residents not to buy any counterfeit goods as it is bad for the economy and warned that the alcohol might cause harm to those who consume it.
Details: Midrand Police Station spokesperson Sergeant Matome Tlamela TlamelaMG@saps.gov.za
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/225963/police-confiscate-drugs-worth-r200-000/
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/209019/counterfeit-goods-operation-busted-midrand/
