Police in KwaZulu-Natal have uncovered counterfeit goods valued at an estimated R400 million during a routine inspection at a freight depot on Edwin Swales Drive, south of Durban.
The discovery was made on Tuesday, 27 May, when officers conducting standard cargo profiling intercepted two suspicious containers. Upon inspection, they found a large cache of fake designer clothing, jewellery, and kitchenware. The containers had been fraudulently declared as carrying furniture.
According to preliminary findings, the shipment originated from an Asian country and was bound for destinations in Gauteng, specifically Alberton and central Johannesburg.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to identify those behind the illicit operation.
Police have not yet confirmed any arrests, but say efforts are ongoing to track down individuals linked to the importation and distribution of the counterfeit goods.
The seizure is one of the largest of its kind in the province and forms part of broader efforts to clamp down on illicit trade and protect legitimate businesses from unfair competition.