Inside the OR Tambo sting: Syndicate HID illegal migrants ‘in wheelie bins’

Strap yourselves in for this one, because it’s a wild ride: A multi-million rand illegal immigration ring operating out of OR Tambo Airport was busted wide open by South Africa’s law enforcement teams this week – and the extreme lengths these smugglers went to have been laid bare by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

OR Tambo Airport illegal immigration sting: Details of shady syndicate emerge

Earlier this week, a top immigration official serving at the Johannesburg hub was arrested during a sting operation. His capture has now set the authorities on the path towards breaking the immigration syndicate completely.

It has since been revealed that the illicit route operated between OR Tambo and Bangladesh. The ‘kingpins’ based overseas would pocket over R100 000 per illegal immigrant that wanted to secure a pathway into SA.

The lucrative business, allegedly, involves key players from all walks of life, with cleaning staff and security agents alike said to be embroiled in this shameless contravention of The Immigration Act.

How the OR Tambo syndicate was able to hide illegal immigrants entering Mzansi

Motsoaledi summarised how the syndicate worked, in eight simple steps. The operation had been left interrupted until yesterday, and now, all the beans are being spilt by those in custody:

• At OR Tambo, the network of the syndicates involves immigration officials, baggage handlers, cleaners, and even cops.
• In Bangladesh, the syndicate recruits Bangladeshis who ‘do not qualify’ to visit South Africa, and members of the airline.
• The kingpins get ‘runners’ to recruit Bangladeshis who want to come to SA, and charges them R110 000.
• A member of the airline smuggles the rogue Bangladeshis in, using false names or removing them from flight lists.
• Runners take pictures of landmarks that the traveller needs to follow, and the counter they must visit.
• On arrival, they hang around the restroom facilities and the transit area until the immigration counters are not busy.
• They will then go to the pre-identified official, who processes them for entry without valid documents.
• The immigration officer or runner is paid around R60 000 for each lawbreaker who is brought into the country.

‘Wheelie desperate’ to illegally enter South Africa

As well as hiding in toilets, Minister Motsoaledi shared another jaw-dropping tactic with us: The illegal immigrants would also be hidden in WHEELIE BINS, before other syndicate members dragged them out of the airport…

“There is a well-coordinated international syndicate that operates in South Africa and Bangladesh. Sometimes, these lawbreakers are wheeled in via those rubbish bins with wheels – in what is perhaps a metaphor for their status in the country. This arrest will now facilitate further arrests of those in the syndicate.”

“This syndicate is involved in this unpatriotic act of selling the country at the feet of OR Tambo, who gave so much for the sovereignty of this country. I am comforted by the knowledge that here at this airport, we have patriotic South Africans who are prepared to defend the country through their deeds – not just words.”

Aaron Motsoaledi