BMA Stops Suspected Human Trafficking Attempts at OR Tambo, Intercepts 30 Foreign Nationals

By Bheki Dlamini

JOHANNESBURG – The Border Management Authority (BMA) has intercepted two groups of travellers suspected of being moved through South Africa as part of human trafficking networks, stopping a total of 30 people at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday.

The incidents occurred during what officials say is a high-risk period for irregular migration and cross-border crime, as the festive season draws more traffic through the country’s ports of entry.

According to Acting Commissioner Jane Thupana, the first group included 14 Ethiopian nationals, five men and nine women, who had arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Their travel patterns were flagged during an advanced passenger data analysis, prompting officers to monitor their arrival.

Investigators say the group’s routing and behaviour matched methods commonly used by trafficking rings that move people through South Africa before dispersing them into neighbouring countries.

The individuals were stopped on arrival and taken in for further processing.

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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has intercepted two groups of travellers suspected of being moved through South Africa as part of human trafficking networks

In the second incident, 16 Bangladeshi men were intercepted after officials noticed them blending into a queue of South African travellers in the airport’s maze area. Their conduct raised suspicions, and officers separated them for a secondary check.

That inspection confirmed that the visas in their passports were fraudulent. Their stated travel intentions also did not align with their documentation, prompting concerns that they too might be linked to trafficking operations.

Thupana said both operations reflect the BMA’s growing emphasis on intelligence-driven border management. She credited the officers involved for their vigilance and quick response, noting that the combination of advanced data screening, behavioural profiling and enforcement on the ground is proving effective in preventing criminal groups from exploiting South Africa as a transit point.

The Authority has increased surveillance and enforcement at major ports as holiday travel ramps up, with irregular migration and visa fraud typically rising at this time of year.

Thupana said the BMA will continue to coordinate with local and international partners to strengthen border security and clamp down on syndicates using aviation routes to move people unlawfully.

The BMA has urged the public to report suspicious activity through its Operation Hi-Tivise hotline.