On February 8, a team compromising members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation, National Crime Intelligence and Sedibeng TRT operationalised information generated thorough investigations into human trafficking, which led them to a house in Springs where 45 undocumented Ethiopian nationals were rescued.
The team arrested six suspects and seized a shotgun and ammunition.
Preliminary investigations on the scene revealed the property is owned by a South African woman who was renting out the cottage where the victims were kept.
The woman’s son is a police officer attached to Public Order Policing (POP) in Springs. He also stays on the property.
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Upon searching the premises, a shotgun with SAPS-issued ammunition was found in one of the rented rooms.
The police then searched the room where the POP member was staying and found more SAPS-issued shotgun ammunition.
While the police were still processing the crime scene, a man arrived with a plastic bag full of banknotes and offered them cash to the police.
A total of R329 400 was seized, and the man was immediately placed under arrest, as well as the police officer and his mother.
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All six suspects appeared in the Springs Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where they are facing charges ranging from human trafficking, possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of ammunition, bribery and defeating the course of justice.
The 45 victims, aged between 23 and 50, have been released to their next of kin.
In January, Gauteng Organised Crime Investigation members arrested Abdi Mohammed Adri and charged him with human trafficking.
Five Ethiopians were found held against their will in his home in Brixton, Johannesburg.
Adri has since appeared in court and is out on bail.
