The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe hailed the swift reaction by police that led to the apprehension of three male suspects aged between 29 and 40 in connection with human trafficking on Friday 30 June 2023 in Polokwane.
The Provincial Organized Unit received information about the illegal activities that were occurring at a lodge in Polokwane and immediately rushed to the premises.
Upon arrival at the lodge, police were directed to one of the rented rooms and found three males, one South African and two Ethiopian nationals who alleged that they were alone in the bachelor room.
Police searched the room and subsequently found three women believed to be Ethiopians hidden in one of the compartments inside the room.
The women aged between 20 and 23 had passports but were not stamped and authorized to be in the country legally and were immediately placed under arrest for contravention of the Immigration Act.
The three males were also nabbed for human trafficking after preliminary investigations indicated that the women were transported from Musina in the Vhembe District and were heading to Gauteng Province without valid passports.
Furthermore, it is reported that the male suspects rented at the lodge for two days and authorities became suspicious.
āI would like to applaud swift response from the police for the immediate apprehension of the suspects who were intending to execute the unknown illegal activities in the provinceā concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistratesā Court on Monday 03 June 2023 facing charges of contravention of the Immigration Act and human trafficking.
Police investigations are continuing.
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