Eight suspects aged between 20 and 22 were arrested by the Queenstown based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks in a joint operation with Department of Labour, Dog unit and Home Affairs (Immigration Officers) at Queenstown for charges of alleged Trafficking in Persons and Contravention of the Immigration Act on 31 May 2023.
The joint team responded to information received about foreign nationals who were allegedly involved in trafficking in persons from neighbouring countries who were later hired as cheap labourers working to create bricks at Factory road in Queenstown.
During the search, it is alleged that seven Lesotho nationals were identified with no documents allowing them to be in the country. It further reported that five South Africans were also identified, profiled by Immigration, confirmed to be lawful citizens of the country and subsequently released. The seven Lesotho nationals were charged and detained for contravention of the Immigration Act. The search also led to the arrest of a Pakistani national for allegations of trafficking in persons.
The eight suspects will make their first court appearance in Queenstown Magistrate’s Court on 1 June 2023.