Ten people were rescued and six suspects were arrested for human trafficking.
In the statement, the Hawks said on Friday that the suspects, between 21 and 68 years of age, were arrested on Wednesday in the Free State.
Five victims were rescued on a farm in Odendaalsrus.
According to the hawks, they acted on information received from Interpol.
“Members followed up on information received from Interpol‚ about a victim who was allegedly trafficked from Lesotho and kept against her will at a farm in Odendaalsrus.
“On arrival at the given address‚ five victims were found and rescued.
A security guard and a manager at the farm were arrested on the spot‚” a Hawks statement read.
Two female suspects alleged to be recruiters were busted in Khune‚ Welkom.
“Additional two suspects‚ a receptionist and a security guard‚ were arrested at a lodge apparently operating as a brothel in Welkom‚ wherein four victims were rescued‚” the Hawks said.
“Seven of the victims‚ amongst them four females and three males‚ originate from Lesotho whilst the other three females are from Bloemfontein. The victims are being kept at a place of safety.”
The suspects are expected to appear in Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
