Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officers have uncovered an illicit operation involving the alteration of expired food products in Johannesburg’s inner city.
Large quantities of expired perishable goods, including juice and yoghurt, were discovered inside a building at the corner of Edith Cavell and Plein Streets.
Officers say the premises were being used as a large-scale counterfeit packaging operation.
The discovery was made during an inner-city operation after vendors reportedly fled from officers, leading them to the building.
Investigators found expired food products allegedly being treated with chemical thinners to remove original expiry dates before new labels with extended expiry dates were applied.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla says no arrests have been made.
Fihla says, “Shockingly, these individuals were using chemical thinners to erase original expiration dates from the packaging before applying fraudulent stickers with falsified, extended expiry dates. Officers also 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.”
Police also recovered cut electrical cables found inside the building. Authorities suspect the cables were stolen municipal infrastructure. All the expired goods and electrical cables have been confiscated.
JMPD Chief of Police Commissioner Patrick Jaca says the operation posed a risk to public health and safety.
“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.”
JMPD HIGH-IMPACT OPERATION SUCCESS
JMPD officers have uncovered an illicit operation at a building on Edith Cavell & Plein Streets in the CBD.
During an inner-city operation, vendors fled from officers, leading police to a building that served as a hub for counterfeit… pic.twitter.com/V2eq9hTSSm
— Jo’burg Metro Police Department – JMPD (@JoburgMPD) June 18, 2026
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