DURBAN – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have uncovered a warehouse in Bluff, south of Durban, storing expired and counterfeit goods, allegedly imported from other countries.
Authorities have yet to determine the origin of the items, which are believed to have been shipped into South Africa. The goods include expired food, beverages, medication, cosmetics, and clothing.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli visited the site and expressed concern over the discovery.
“We’re at a warehouse storing goods from a ship, and what we’ve uncovered is deeply troubling for our country. Many of the items here lack expiry dates, some are expired, and others are counterfeit products that should not be in South Africa,” Ntuli said.
The Premier emphasized that counterfeit goods not only pose a risk to public health but also harm the local economy.
Among the seized items were rotten food products, expired antibiotics, and suspicious substances. Some products had questionable expiry dates, with antibiotics labeled to last over five years.
“Most of these items are counterfeit, expired, or lack proper expiry information,” Ntuli explained. “These products endanger lives, especially children, and undermine the competitiveness of locally produced goods.”
The discovery also revealed substances like Sniper—a chemical often misused—which had been mixed with food items, raising further alarm.
Authorities have confirmed that these illicit goods were stored in containers meant for imported products, raising concerns about port security and regulatory enforcement.
“This is not just a public health issue; it’s an economic one. Counterfeit goods flood our markets, competing unfairly with local products and putting consumers at risk,” Ntuli concluded.
Investigations are ongoing, and officials are working to determine how the goods entered the country and who is responsible for their distribution.
