Key Points
- The detention of 32 Ethiopian nationals occurred when they managed to escape from a house located in Lombardy East.
- The police service operates to identify cases of illegal immigration and to determine whether human trafficking is present.
- The authorities now search for the owner of the house and its tenant to obtain additional investigative information.
Police arrested thirty-two individuals among fifty Ethiopian nationals who fled a hostage event in Lombardy East Johannesburg based on police information from Gauteng.
32 Ethiopian nationals detained, police respond to community tip-off
The police have confirmed through their spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo that the detained individuals from age 13 to 24 face charges of unlawful migration making it 32 Ethiopian nationals detained.
The first indication that came to the police attention occurred when community patrollers called in at approximately 9 a.m. about unusual individuals running in the streets with some of them completely nude.
The police sent their crime prevention officers to carry out investigations according to Masondo. Our arrival revealed that specific victims had already entered a local shop. Our team entered to find eight figures among them who were half-naked and all male.
More victims found in house
Officers discovered another 32 people inside a nearby building during their subsequent investigation after finding the location where the victims were kept. The initial examination established that all detained people came from Ethiopia.
Masondo reported that victims escaped when they assaulted the house door. The victims burst through the door before running away in every direction after its break-in according to him.
Ongoing investigations about 32 Ethiopian Detained
Law enforcement authorities strive to understand both the transportation process and the original purpose of bringing victims to South African territory. According to Masondo the authorities continue to investigate the individuals who brought these people into South Africa and the reasons behind their arrival as well as their motivations. The investigation requires help from an interpreter as per authorities’ instructions.
The police aim to interview the property owner because reports indicate he holds tenant status. A foreign national who rents the house is currently the main suspect of holding important information in the ongoing investigation.
Human trafficking link
A previous human trafficking event took place in January when police freed 15 Ethiopian migrants who suffered mistreatment at a Lombardy East residential property. The incident led to the hospitalization of eleven victims and several others managed to escape the scene while undressed.
The authorities remain dedicated to revealing every aspect of human trafficking operations associated with these cases and with this new progress of 32 Ethiopian nationals detained.
