Police have freed 90 Ethiopian nationals who were being held against their will in a dramatic rescue operation in Johannesburg.
The rescue took place on Sunday in Sunnydale Ridge, a suburb in Johannesburg, where the victims were found confined in poor and inhumane conditions.
The rescue operation was part of a broader investigation led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF).
The team was originally searching for a kidnapping victim when they discovered the Ethiopian nationals locked up in rooms.
These individuals were undocumented and had been trafficked into South Africa under harsh conditions.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for SAPS, explained that the police were initially tracking a kidnapping case.
The victim, who was being held for ransom, was taken from Benoni. His kidnappers had demanded a substantial ransom from his family, putting intense pressure on the investigation.
As the STF team followed leads, they came across the Ethiopian nationals who were reportedly held against their will.
These individuals were found in dire conditions, locked in confined spaces. The authorities managed to rescue them and provide immediate medical attention.
The victims were taken to a hospital for treatment, reflecting the serious health impact of their captivity.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the trafficking and kidnapping. They are expected to face serious charges including kidnapping and human trafficking.
The case has been transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) for further investigation and prosecution.
Mathe praised the efforts of various teams involved in the rescue. The success of the operation was attributed to the combined work of crime intelligence, organized crime detectives, and local SAPS units, including those from Sandringham and Daveyton. Private security also played a crucial role in supporting the operation.
This operation comes on the heels of another successful rescue in Johannesburg. Last week, police freed a kidnapped businessman and arrested eight individuals, including three from Tanzania.
The businessman had been taken from a mosque in Helderkruin, Roodepoort, on July 5. His rescue involved a complex operation across multiple locations, including a hotel in East Gate and two apartments in Fourways. During this operation, police also seized drugs estimated to be worth R300 million.
Human trafficking is a serious crime that involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation. Victims often suffer severe physical and psychological harm.
In many cases, they are lured or coerced into these situations under false pretenses, and their freedom is severely restricted.
0 Comments