Visa fraud and human trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport, as 30 foreign nationals intercepted
Border Management Authority officials conduct passenger profiling and document checks at OR Tambo International Airport as part of intensified festive season security efforts.
Image: BMA
Border Management Authority (BMA) officials intercepted two groups of foreign nationals at OR Tambo International Airport in what the agency believes were attempts linked to human trafficking, irregular migration, and visa fraud.
The interceptions were carried out on Thursday, 11 December 2025, as part of heightened festive season border security operations, Acting BMA commissioner Jane Thupana said on Friday.
In the first incident, 14 Ethiopian nationals – five men and nine women – were stopped upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airlines flight after advance passenger data flagged their travel pattern as suspicious.
According to the BMA, preliminary checks indicated a modus operandi often associated with trafficking syndicates, in which travellers attempt to transit through South Africa to neighbouring countries before re-entering the country irregularly.
All 14 were detained for further processing.
In a separate incident, 16 Bangladeshi men were intercepted after officers discovered they were travelling with fraudulent visas. They had arrived on another Ethiopian Airlines flight and were noticed attempting to blend in with South African passengers in the maze area of the arrivals terminal.
Profiling by immigration officers led to the group being removed from the queue and referred for secondary investigation, where their documents were found to be fake.
Immigration officers at OR Tambo International Airport identify and isolate travellers flagged for suspected human trafficking and visa fraud.
Image: BMA
The BMA said the men’s stated intentions for entering the country were inconsistent with legitimate travel, raising concerns of possible trafficking.
Thupana commended officials for what she described as vigilant and intelligence-led work. She said the interceptions demonstrated the effectiveness of combining advanced passenger data, behavioural profiling, and on-site enforcement to prevent South Africa from being exploited as a transit corridor for organised criminal networks.
The Authority said it will maintain tightened security measures at all ports of entry throughout the festive season as part of efforts to curb irregular migration, visa fraud, and human trafficking. It also urged the public to report suspicious activity through the Operation Hi-Tivise hotline on 0801 229 019 or via its website.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News