FORDSBURG – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has seized illegally imported cell phones, mainly Apple iPhone and Samsung gadgets, and cell phone accessories valued at more than R17 million along with two-way radios, IMEI and ICASA labels during a takedown operation conducted this week in Fordsburg, Johannesburg.
A multidisciplinary team acted on intelligence regarding illegally imported electronic devices and related items being stored and sold in a Fordsburg mall.
The operation comprised members from the SAPS Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, Border Policing, the Johannesburg Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), and private security personnel.
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.
A non-type approved cell phone is any device that has not been certified by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
Majority of the seized devices included Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. Also amongst the seized items are ICASA and IMEI labels, two-way radios, and other cell phone accessories.
According to Section 35 of the Electronic Communications Act: “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.”
All confiscated items have been transported to ICASA’s storage facility for safekeeping and further analysis, while investigation remains ongoing.
Police seize illegally imported Apple iPhone and Samsung gadgets worth over R17 million in Fordsburghttps://t.co/1H64oxqHrl#ArriveAlive #Crime @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/xUh9g7Mr9i
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 24, 2025
