Johannesburg – Police have seized iPhones, Samsung gadgets, cell phone accessories, and two-way radios, all of which were allegedly illegally imported, valued at more than R17 million.
During the operation conducted this week in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, the police also found IMEI and ICASA labels.
Commenting on the swoop on Thursday, 23 October 2025, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said a multidisciplinary team acted on a tip-off about illegally imported electronic devices stored and sold in a Fordsburg mall.
She said the operation comprised the SA Police Service Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, Border Policing, the Johannesburg Local Criminal Record Centre, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), and private security.
“More than a thousand non-type-approved devices and related items were confiscated for being in contravention of the Customs and Excise Act and the Electronic Communications Act,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk.
Non-type-approved cell phones or devices are those that have not been certified by ICASA.
The seized contraband included Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones.
“Amongst the seized items are ICASA and IMEI labels, two-way radios, and other cell phone accessories,” said Lieutenant Colonel Van Wyk.
All confiscated items have been transported to ICASA’s storage facility for safekeeping and further analysis, while the investigation remains ongoing.
During the raid, police enforced Section 35 of the Electronic Communications Act which states: “No person may use, supply, sell, offer for sale, lease, or hire any type of electronic communications equipment or electronic communications facility, including radio apparatus, used or to be used in connection with the provision of electronic communications, unless such equipment, electronic communications facility or radio apparatus has been approved by the Authority.”
