Human trafficking suspects to appear in court

© saiyood srikamon – 123RF.com

The five, aged between 18 and 35, were arrested on Friday after the Hawks rescued 72 foreigners, who were allegedly trafficked from Swaziland and Lesotho.

The foreign nationals were labour exploited in one of the factories in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said they received information about foreign nationals, who were kept in a certain factory in the area.

“A search warrant was swiftly obtained and Hawks members, together with the Department of Labour as well as Home Affairs officials, swooped on the said premises on Friday, 3 February 2017.

“A search was conducted and the victims were found working. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were brought into South Africa illegally,” said Mhlongo.