By Johannah Malogadihlare
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and the Border Management Authority have welcomed the arrest of a German national, who was on Interpol’s most wanted list, at OR Tambo international.
According to BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato, he was wanted for drug trafficking and had evaded arrest for eight years.
He said the arrest happened during a routine border security operation.
Schreiber sang the praises of the BMA and the collaborative effort that led resulted in the apprehension.
“Mere days after the BMA’s signing of its latest MOU – this time with Interpol – the arrest of a German national who had been on the global most wanted list for eight years, demonstrates how the authority’s exemplary commitment to collaboration in order to overcome critical funding and staffing shortages, is restoring the rule of law and making South Africa safer,” Schreiber said in a statement on Monday.
The suspect had been reported to have travelled from South Africa to Turkey using a fraudulent Israeli passport. He was caught after returning back to South Africa.
“I commend the BMA for this latest sterling work, which affirms our unwavering commitment to restore the rule of law in the border management environment.
“The progress we are making also underscores that greater investment in the BMA is a good deal for South Africa, as a better-managed border will yield significant economic and security returns for our country,” said Schreiber.
Masiapato has commended the vigilance and professionalism of the officials involved, saying that the BMA’s robust systems and partnerships with Interpol and other global entities had proven indispensable in protecting the nation’s security and integrity.
The suspect is currently in custody awaiting extradition to Germany.
The BMA has urged all travelers to comply with immigration laws and security protocols to ensure smooth movement.
The BMA was formally launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa just over a year ago.
It was set up to deal with a number of challenges, including the increase in undocumented foreign nationals entering the country, and a lack of cooperation between various management and enforcement authorities.
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