Mnquma Local Municipality has confirmed that 21 undocumented migrants were arrested during a raid by a multi-disciplinary task team of Law Enforcement officers in Butterworth today, February 13.
The suspected migrants include two women, one Chinese woman and a Zimbabwean. A South African was also arrested for illegal possession of dagga.
Other suspects were arrested for trading without a valid trading permit issued by the municipality.
The suspects, among them hardware store owners and Barber shop (hair salon) employees around the Butterworth CBD, include Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Ghanaians and two Lesotho nationals, among others.
Some of the suspects were arrested while hiding between roof sheets inside the hardware shops while others were arrested while trying to flee.
“The joint operation was led by Mnquma’s Law Enforcement Unit, officials from the Department of Labour and the Department of Home Affairs,” added Mpalantshane.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscila Naidu could not immediately confirm knowledge of the arrests and when the suspects were due in court.
