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The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has uncovered an illicit operation involving the alteration of expired food products and the storage of suspected stolen municipal infrastructure during a high-impact service delivery operation in the inner city.
While JMPD officers were actively conducting High Impact Service Delivery Operations in the CBD, they observed individuals selling goods from informal trolleys. As officers approached the vendors to verify their compliance with city bylaws and check their immigration status, the individuals abandoned their trolleys and fled on foot.
Officers pursued the fleeing suspects into a building situated at the corner of Edith Cavell and Plein Streets. Upon entering and searching the premises, officers discovered a large-scale counterfeit packaging operation.
Inside the building, officers found vast quantities of expired perishable goods, including juices and yoghurts. Further investigation on the scene revealed that the individuals inside the space were allegedly utilising chemical thinners to erase original expiration dates from the packaging before applying fraudulent stickers with falsified, extended expiry dates.
Additionally, officers discovered cut electrical cables inside the premises. The cables are highly suspected to be stolen municipal infrastructure, which directly contributes to the city’s ongoing battles with power disruptions and infrastructure theft.
No arrests have been made at this stage. However, the JMPD emphasises that this is far from the end of the matter. Officers will maintain a strong, continuous presence to monitor the area, and a thorough investigation is underway to track down the perpetrators. Those who are at fault will be caught and put to book.
JMPD Chief of Police, Commissioner Patrick Jaca, visited the scene immediately following the discovery to assess the operation.
“What we uncovered today is not just a violation of municipal bylaws, but a direct and dangerous assault on the health and safety of our residents,” said Commissioner Jaca. “Selling expired food by maliciously altering dates shows a complete disregard for human life. Furthermore, finding suspected stolen electrical cables on the same premises underscores how these illicit networks damage our city’s infrastructure. We are intensifying our high-impact operations, and we will not hesitate to clamp down on those who exploit our inner city for criminal gains.”
The expired consumables and suspected stolen cables have been confiscated. JMPD, in conjunction with relevant law enforcement agencies and health inspectors, will continue to investigate the matter to ensure the property owners and individuals involved face the full might of the law.
The JMPD urges members of the public to remain vigilant when purchasing goods from unregulated vendors and to report any suspicious activity to the JMPD hotline 011 375 5918 or 0800 002 587
INFO SUPPLIED.