The Hawks based in George have on Saturday, 16 December 2023 arrested a 34-year-old female suspect for her alleged involvement in trafficking in persons. Her arrest follows after the Hawks received information on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 that three young girls had been trafficked from West Africa into South Africa a few months ago inside a shipping container. They were allegedly given fake passports. Information was that the girls were advertised on an escort website and were kept in a residential complex in George.
The Serious Organised Crime Investigation team operationalized the information and a search was conducted at the premises. They found four females, whom the Hawks suspected to have been trafficked. The victims who are between the ages of 21 and 47 were rescued and kept in a place of safety after they were taken for medical assessment.
The suspect, who is allegedly the caretaker on the premises, was arrested and is expected to appear at George Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 18 December 2023 on charges of contravention of Section 4(1) and Section 7 of the Prevention and Combatting of the Trafficking in Persons Act, Act 7 of 2013.
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