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Hawks bust counterfeit washing powder facility


Criminal and civil proceedings are currently underway against a 42-year-old suspect from Springs.

This, was after the Hawks uncovered a counterfeit washing powder manufacturing facility.

An in-depth investigation led by the Hawks and brand protectors from Spoor & Fisher Attorneys led to the bust on 1 April.

During the investigation, samples of the counterfeit products were purchased, whilst the Intellectual Property Rights Section of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based at the Hawks head office carried out their preliminary investigation with brand protectors.

The Hawks led team found that the premises were a large scale manufacturing and distribution facility.

They confiscated a huge amount of raw materials including machinery, an industrial sifting machine, unbranded washing powder with counterfeit labels bearing well-known trademarks of various proprietors, sodium, filled and empty buckets, electronic scale, colouring and dye.

 

The combined value of all the goods seized has not yet been established.

The suspect was served with a summons to appear in court for contravention of the counterfeit goods Act 37 of 1997, once all investigations are concluded.