An immigration officer at OR Tambo International Airport has been arrested for facilitating the unlawful entry into South Africa of five Bangladesh nationals.
“A short while ago, we arrested an immigration officer who facilitated the entry of five Bangladeshi people into the country without the required immigration documents, in this case, valid permits,” said Home Affairs Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi on Wednesday afternoon.
“He is a key link in an elaborate and well-coordinated international syndicate that operates in South Africa and Bangladesh.”
The home affairs minister said the activities of the syndicate were first picked up by the South African Revenue Service (Customs Officials) just before Covid-19 forced the closure of borders.
Dr. Motsoaledi said “at this airport” the network of the syndicates involves immigration officers and other role players such as a member of the ground handling staff, cleaners, security personnel as well as the law enforcement agencies.
“In Bangladesh, the syndicate includes a runner who recruits Bangladeshi who do not qualify to visit South Africa and members of the airline,” revealed the minister.
“All of these operations are coordinated by a kingpin.
“The kingpin gets the runner to recruit Bangladeshis who want to come to SA but do not qualify.
“He charges them around R110 000.”
The home affairs minister said the elaborate scam involves a member of the airline smuggling the Bangladeshis onto a flight by either providing false names on the list of passengers or by not including their names.
He said the Bangladeshis are informed in advance of what they need to do at the airport when they arrive.
“On arrival, they hang around the restroom facilities and the transit area until the immigration counters are not busy,” said Dr. Motsoaledi.
“A signal is given by another runner to go to the pre-identified official who then processes them for entry without valid documents – in violation of the Immigration Act.
“Sometimes, these lawbreakers are wheeled in via those rubbish bins with wheels – in what is perhaps a metaphor for their status in the country.”
The minister said investigations show that rogue immigration officers are paid around R60 000 for each person smuggled into South Africa.
Their ill-gotten gains are then distributed to other people involved in the scam.
“The arrest of this immigration official is going to lead to the arrest of other immigration officials and other members of the syndicate,” said the home affairs minister.
“We shall also follow up to establish how these five Bangladeshis were allowed to board the aircraft and to make sure that that airline is brought to book.”
Ordinarily, each traveller has to be cleared by our Operations Centre in Pretoria which operates for 24 hours.
Airlines have to submit the full list of everyone on board their aircraft through the Advance Passenger Processing system.
The arrested immigration officer is expected to appear in court soon.
