Edited: The SAPS in Gqeberha/PE announced this morning, 30 June, that they and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), arrested 76 undocumented foreign nationals and three additional suspects during a joint operation conducted in Central port Elizabeth earlier this am.
The arrests were made under ‘June 30 Operational Deployment’. While conducting patrol duties in the Central Business District, SANDF members noticed suspicious activity at a residence in Havelock Street and immediately alerted SAPS. Police responded and discovered the 76 undocumented foreign nationals, including seven children.
The undocumented foreign nationals were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act and are being processed in accordance with the applicable legal and immigration procedures.
Three suspects, aged 43, 43 and 50, comprising two Ugandan nationals and one Malawian national, were also arrested on charges of aiding and abetting undocumented foreign nationals, the distribution of fraudulent documents, and possession of counterfeit goods.
Acting District Commissioner for Nelson Mandela Bay, Brigadier Loyiso Ngalo, commended the members involved in the operation and reaffirmed SAPS’ commitment to enforcing the law. “Operations of this nature demonstrate the strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies in combating illegal immigration and related criminal activities. We will continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations to ensure that those who facilitate criminality are brought to book while maintaining a safe and secure environment for all residents,” Brigadier Ngalo said.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat illegal immigration and related crimes within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Investigations are continuing, and additional charges may be added as the investigation unfolds.
All the arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court once they have been formally charged.
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