25 foreign nationals arrested for contravention of immigration act
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- January 28, 2024
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Limpopo Police have arrested 25 foreign nationals who were illegally smuggled into South Africa from Ethiopia through Zimbabwe. The suspects are aged between 20 and 44 years.
It is reported that members of the SAPS Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team in conjunction with the two private security companies SPS High Risk and Tshimollo Security have on Saturday 27 January 2024 operationalised information gathered regarding the motor vehicle a white Toyota Quantum.
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The vehicle was found driving along R81 road in Solomondale through Munik road from Beitbridge port of entry in Musina from Zimbabwe to Polokwane.
The operational team successfully spotted the said Quantum at the filling station along R81 road in Sebayeng. Upon checking they discovered that twenty-three Ethiopian male nationals aged between 20 and 38 years. They were ferried in a fifteen-seater passenger minibus by the driver a 44-year-old male South African citizen.
Preliminary investigations revealed that all the passengers in the said Quantum were illegally smuggled into the country.
It is reported that while in the process of searching the Quantum and the passengers. They suddenly saw a white motor vehicle Toyota Fortuner which stopped at the scene being driven by a male foreign national.
FOREIGN NATIONAL ARRESTED IN LIMPOPO FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THE IMMIGRATION ACT
It is reported that the driver of the Quantum was found in possession of a licensed firearm. But it was confiscated for investigation purposes.
Meanwhile, the driver of the Fortuner reportedly tried to bribe the police with R5000 to let the Quantum with the passengers go free from the arrest. Subsequently, he was charged with bribery.
Police also arrested two drivers. The suspects are facing charges of human trafficking, bribery, and contravention of the immigration act.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers hailed the involved teams for their commitment and alertness in ridding this province of criminality.
The suspects are expected to appear before Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 29 January 2024.