{"id":269559,"date":"2025-09-06T09:33:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T07:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T13:33:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T11:33:31","slug":"police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/","title":{"rendered":"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PRETORIA <\/strong>– Over one million counterfeit and illicit items – worth more than R100 million – were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These items include counterfeit designer clothing, handbags, and labels; counterfeit mobile phone accessories and SIM cards; processed meat products and illicit cigarettes; automotive products, toys, and medicines; and agricultural stock and non-compliant products such as electrical appliances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also amongst the seized items are counterfeit merchandise that bears the Springboks trademark and other well-known brands. These items were seized outside the Cape Town Stadium during a recent Springbok match against a visiting country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Counterfeit merchandise bearing the Springboks trademark. Photo: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, police spokesperson, said takedowns took place nationwide in recent weeks, but especially in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Wyk stated the establishment of the National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods Unit in November 2023 underscores the SAPS’s ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling the networks behind the illegal trade in counterfeit and illicit goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such activities threaten consumer health and safety, erode legitimate businesses, infringe on intellectual property rights, and undermine South Africa’s economy.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Part of the counterfeit goods that were confiscated. Photos: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition, police arrested two suspects for dealing in counterfeit goods in Gauteng, one suspect for possession of illicit cigarettes, and another for contravening the Agricultural Remedies Act in KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The multidisciplinary operations were led by the national and provincial Counterfeit and Illicit Goods units, with support from Public Order Policing, Border Policing, Rapid Rail Police unit (RRPU), K9 units, the Department of Home Affairs, South African Revenue Service, National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, provincial drug and firearm units, metropolitan police, brand protectors, and private security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over one million counterfeit and illicit items – worth more than R100 million – were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":269567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"71","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"60","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"3","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[67,1],"tags":[7911,9080,91],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-269559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-news","tag-crime","tag-illicet-trade","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"\nCounterfeit items worth over R100 million seized | PE Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1238\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"851\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Helena Barnard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Helena Barnard\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/12a76df963960c190048ba76e1880a29\"},\"headline\":\"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":302,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/illicit-goods.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Crime\",\"illicet trade\",\"Top\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Business\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/\",\"name\":\"Counterfeit items worth over R100 million seized | PE Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/illicit-goods.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00\",\"description\":\"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/illicit-goods.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/illicit-goods.jpg\",\"width\":1238,\"height\":851,\"caption\":\"Part of ongoing action against illicit and counterfeit items. PHOTO: Supplied\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"PE Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/express_newspapers\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\\\/videos\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/12a76df963960c190048ba76e1880a29\",\"name\":\"Helena Barnard\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"caption\":\"Helena Barnard\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/author\\\/helena-barnard\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Counterfeit items worth over R100 million seized | PE Express","description":"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized","og_description":"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/","og_site_name":"PE Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1238,"height":851,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Helena Barnard","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@express_newspapers","twitter_site":"@express_newspapers","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/"},"author":{"name":"Helena Barnard","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/12a76df963960c190048ba76e1880a29"},"headline":"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized","datePublished":"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/"},"wordCount":302,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","keywords":["Crime","illicet trade","Top"],"articleSection":["Business","News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/","name":"Counterfeit items worth over R100 million seized | PE Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-06T07:33:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-06T11:33:31+00:00","description":"Over one million counterfeit and illicit items - worth more than R100 million - were confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS), dealing a decisive blow to the illicit economy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","width":1238,"height":851,"caption":"Part of ongoing action against illicit and counterfeit items. PHOTO: Supplied"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-strike-on-illicit-trade-over-r100-million-in-counterfeit-goods-seized\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Police strike on illicit trade: Over R100 million in counterfeit goods seized"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","name":"PE Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization","name":"PE Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"PE Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/x.com\/express_newspapers","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000\/videos"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/12a76df963960c190048ba76e1880a29","name":"Helena Barnard","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","caption":"Helena Barnard"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/author\/helena-barnard\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/illicit-goods.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":268221,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/gqeberha-police-seize-fake-medicine-worth-r2-2-million\/","url_meta":{"origin":269559,"position":0},"title":"Gqeberha police seize fake medicine worth R2.2 million","author":"PE Express","date":"4 August 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Eastern Cape police have confiscated illicit pharmaceuticals and suspected counterfeit goods valued at approximately R2.2 million during a tactical operation in Korsten, Gqeberha, on 30 July. According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, police acted on intelligence provided by the SAPS Sea Border Office. Following that\u00a0intelligence, Gantana stated\u00a0that\u00a0a \"multi-disciplinary team\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"caution tape","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/caution-5978818_1280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/caution-5978818_1280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/caution-5978818_1280.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/caution-5978818_1280.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/caution-5978818_1280.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":268739,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-spaza-shops-shut-down-in-multi-department-raid-of-counterfeit-goods\/","url_meta":{"origin":269559,"position":1},"title":"Five Spaza shops shut down\u00a0in multi-department raid of counterfeit goods","author":"PE Express","date":"15 August 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"GQEBERHA\u00a0\u2013 Five spaza shops in Motherwell were closed down during a joint operation conducted by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Public Health Directorate and multiple enforcement agencies on Thursday 14 August. The coordinated raid, involving 12 different departments and agencies, uncovered widespread unlawful practices including the sale of counterfeit goods, illegal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A coordinated raid, involving 12 different departments and agencies, uncovered widespread unlawful practices including the sale of counterfeit goods.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/counterfeit-goods3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266883,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/major-drug-bust-in-goodwood-r54-3-million-in-heroin-and-tik-seized\/","url_meta":{"origin":269559,"position":2},"title":"Major drug bust in Goodwood: R54.3 million in heroin and tik seized","author":"TygerBurger","date":"14 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Goodwood police seized tik and heroin worth over R54 million during a house raid. The drugs were hidden in a cupboard and in the ceiling.","rel":"","context":"In "Community"","block_context":{"text":"Community","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"In total, drugs worth R54,3 million were seized during the operation.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goodwood-drugbust-R54.3mil.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298610,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/operation-identity-nets-22-arrests-r160000-in-seized-goods-in-gqeberha\/","url_meta":{"origin":269559,"position":3},"title":"‘Operation Identity’ nets 22 arrests, R160,000 in seized goods in Gqeberha","author":"PE Express","date":"13 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"SAPS remains committed to strengthening operations under Operation Identity to combat crime in Gqeberha.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"'Operation Identity' yields significant results in Gqeberha CBD.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-12-at-21.11.51-e1778653094942.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-12-at-21.11.51-e1778653094942.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-12-at-21.11.51-e1778653094942.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-12-at-21.11.51-e1778653094942.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-12-at-21.11.51-e1778653094942.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"NovaNews","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269559"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=269559"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=269559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}