DURBAN — Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with a sophisticated passport fraud scheme operating out of KwaZulu-Natal, bringing the total number of arrests in the operation to seven, the Hawks announced Tuesday.
The arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on a criminal network that allegedly provided South African passports to undocumented foreign nationals through corrupt channels at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
According to investigators, the criminal enterprise operated after hours at multiple DHA offices in Durban, specifically targeting the Commercial Street branch, as well as offices in Isipingo and Eshowe. The illegal activities reportedly took place during evenings, weekends, and public holidays when the offices were officially closed.
“This operation has uncovered a sophisticated network of corruption that undermines our national security and the integrity of our identification systems,” said a spokesperson for the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit.
The investigation revealed that South African citizens were recruited into the scheme, receiving between R300 and R1 000 for their participation in the fraudulent passport applications. These citizens allegedly allowed their identities to be used to create authentic-looking documentation for foreign nationals.
The criminal activities spanned more than three years, from February 2020 to July 2023, before authorities began dismantling the network.
This week’s arrests add to an already substantial tally in the case. Since September 2022, a total of 38 individuals have been arrested in connection with the scheme, including seven DHA officials and 31 private citizens. Of those arrested, 24 individuals – including four DHA officials – have already been convicted and sentenced to a combined 310 years in prison.
The seven suspects currently in custody appeared before the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, facing charges of corruption, fraud, and violations of both the Immigration Act and Identification Act.
The Hawks indicated that the investigation remains active, with further arrests expected as authorities continue to unravel the full extent of the operation.
“This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to rooting out corruption, particularly when it threatens our national security and identity systems,” the Hawks spokesperson added. “Anyone involved in these activities should know that we will find them, regardless of their position.”
The Department of Home Affairs has reportedly implemented additional security measures at its branches to prevent similar schemes from operating in the future.
