South African police have arrest a Bangladeshi national accused of being part of a human trafficking racket in Mpumalanga province.
The suspect, 52, was arrested late Monday in a police raid on a house in Kamagugu near Mbombela in the province.
Some 19 Bangladeshi nationals suspected to have been trafficked into South Africa were rescued during the raid, police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala said.
The police “further found that their cellphones were placed in one plastic bag, which suggested that they had no access to communicate with either their relatives or friends,” Mohlala said.
The victims were, however, charged for Contravention of the Immigration Act.
He said police investigations were continuing to establish the destination of the victims as well as those behind human trafficking syndicate.
JN/APA