By Marcus Moloko
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has confirmed two major interceptions at OR Tambo International Airport as it disrupted suspected human trafficking operations involving Ethiopian and Bangladeshi nationals on Thursday.
BMA Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mmemme Mogotsi said border law enforcement teams pounced after identifying suspicious travel patterns.
In the first incident, 14 Ethiopian nationals — five men and nine women — were intercepted upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
According to Mogotsi, the group’s travel details raised red flags during routine passenger analysis.
Investigations revealed a modus operandi commonly associated with human trafficking syndicates, where individuals transit through South Africa en route to neighbouring countries before re-entering the country. All 14 were stopped and referred for further investigation.
In a separate incident, 16 Bangladeshi men were intercepted after arriving on another Ethiopian Airlines flight.
BMA officials discovered that the group was carrying fraudulent visas. Officers became suspicious when the men attempted to blend in with South African travellers in the airport’s maze area.
They were separated from the queue and taken to the BMA law enforcement office, where their documentation was confirmed to be fraudulent.
Mogotsi said the group’s intentions were inconsistent with legitimate travel, raising concerns of possible human trafficking activity.
She commended the officers involved for their vigilance, technological capability, and swift action in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
“These interceptions demonstrate the effectiveness of our border control systems and the dedication of our officers in combating human trafficking.”
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