The Mercury reports that five suspects involved in an alleged passport fraud syndicate in Durban were arrested in a Home Affairs-led law enforcement operation at the weekend.
The operation, supported by the Hawks, took place at the uMngeni and Commercial Road offices in Durban. Among the five people arrested were a former Home Affairs official from the Prospecton office, a municipal project volunteer at the Commercial Road office, and three members of the public – one of whom was found with 226 passports that were recently stolen from the uMngeni Home Affairs office. The same suspect was also found with copies of enabling documents that did not belong to him. One of the suspects was found with keys to the Home Affairs offices on Commercial Road and at Prospecton. The successful operation was initiated by Home Affairs’ Counter-Corruption Unit following information received from the public. All five suspects are expected to appear in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday. The department said two further suspects had been identified as members of this syndicate but the Hawks remained on the hunt for them.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphesihle Buthelezi at The Mercury
- Read too, Five more arrested in Durban passport fraud scheme, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
- En ook, Nog vyf vas oor paspoortbedrog in Durban, by Maroela Media
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