A 34-year-old woman is expected to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court in the Western Cape for her alleged involvement in trafficking in persons.
The woman was arrested on Saturday, December 16 by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (known as Hawks).
The provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the woman’s arrest follows information received on December 13, that three young girls had been trafficked from West Africa into South Africa a few months ago inside a shipping container.
“They were allegedly given fake passports. Information was that the girls were advertised on an escort website and were kept in a residential complex in George,” Vukubi said.
After the information was received the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team operationalised the information and a search was conducted at the premises.
“They found four females, whom the Hawks suspected to have been trafficked. The victims who are between the ages of 21 and 47 were rescued and kept in a place of safety after they were taken for medical assessment,” Vukubi said.
The suspect is allegedly the caretaker on the premises. She was arrested immediately.
“The suspect is expected to appear at George Magistrate's Court on Monday, December 18, 2023, on charges of contravention of Section 4(1) and Section 7 of the Prevention and Combatting of the Trafficking in Persons Act, Act 7 of 2013,” Vukubi said.