PRETORIA – A 41-year-old man arrested by the Hawks’ East Rand Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Tubatse, Limpopo, on Friday 16 October, is expected to appear in the Protea Glen Magistrates’ Court again on Thursday 22 October.
He faces charges of fraud, corruption, contraventions of the Immigration Act and racketeering.
He is the final outstanding suspect linked to Project Humulani, a major undercover operation targeting a multi-million-rand passport fraud, corruption and human smuggling syndicate. Project Humulani, a multi-disciplinary South African law enforcement operation targeting a multi-million-rand passport fraud, corruption, and human smuggling syndicate, was registered in April 2022. This was after intelligence was gathered in December 2021 regarding a syndicate operating at the borders.
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Photo-swapping scheme
The syndicate’s kingpin colluded with corrupt Home Affairs officials and vulnerable South African citizens to facilitate a process known as “photo-swapping.” In the process, the operation used the valid identity details of South African citizens. However, it substituted the photographs with those of foreign nationals to issue fraudulent South African passports.
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Operation yields results
The multi-disciplinary investigation was led by the Hawks’ East Rand Serious Organised Crime Investigation in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Director of Public Prosecutions. It has yielded significant successes over its duration. The syndicate kingpin was previously convicted and sentenced to 14 years of direct imprisonment. Furthermore, three Toyota Fortuner SUVs used by the syndicate have been seized. Also, several hundred fraudulently issued passports have been blocked and cancelled by authorities.
Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela, Acting Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commended the investigation team on their work and dedication to the case.
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