TWO men, aged 25 and 32, were arrested for alleged human trafficking in Benoni Ekurhuleni on Thursday, 24 August.
This was after police were alerted about unknown men jumping out of the window of a house in Northmead, Benoni.
Hawks spokeswoman Captain Bonnie Nxumalo said when police arrived at the said house, they found 27 foreign nationals who were immediately arrested and charged with illegal immigration.
"Twenty-six Ethiopians were found in the house and had no documents to stay in the country. The Germiston-based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team was alerted."
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“During the investigation, it emerged that the suspects were being held illegally in the building and will be released if their families pay the owner of the building who helped them enter Mzansi illegally,” she said.
Nxumalo said the 27th man, a 25-year-old Malawian, was a caretaker who allegedly guarded the others and cooked for them.
"The Hawks later arrested an Ethiopian (32) who is the owner of the property who allegedly paid the Malawian to guard them,” she said.
She said the 26 men were released after appearing at Benoni Magistrate Court while the alleged human smuggler and the caretaker were remanded in custody as investigations continue.
She said they were charged with human trafficking, extortion and illegal immigration.
“They will reappear before the Benoni Magistrates Court on Monday, 4 September, to apply for bail,” Nxumalo said.
