Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested 268 illegal foreign nationals during a raid at two textile warehouses in Newcastle in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

OWNERS CHARGED FOR EMPLOYING ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS 

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the court granted intelligence a search warrant after receiving information about illegal immigrants employed at two warehouses that manufacture fabric and clothing items on Gutenberg Street. "An operation was executed from Friday night through to the early hours of Saturday. During the operation, two foreign nationals of Asian origin who are the owners of the warehouses were charged with contravening Section 38 of the Immigration Act by employing illegal foreigners in their two warehouses," Netshiunda said. The owners, aged 40 and 46 years old, were released on R1 000 bail each after arrangements were made with the court, following positive verification of their physical addresses and status in the country.

ARRESTED IMMIGRANTS TO APPEAR IN COURT 

Netshiunda added that 268 illegal immigrants, whose ages range between 18 and 51 years old, were arrested. After processing by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs, they will be brought before the Newcastle Magistrates Court on Monday, 25 November 2024. Meanwhile, the police in Johannesburg seized counterfeit and contraband goods estimated to have a value of approximately R8.6 million yesterday from two separate operations that were conducted in Langlaagte and Honeydew by the SAPS Gauteng counterfeit unit, brand protectors, and community policing forum. Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the first operation was performed on Friday 2024 at Langlaagte and resulted in seizures of illicit perfumes to the value of R5.3 million, while the police seized fake goods including clothes, shoes, and cellphone accessories valued at more than R3.3 million at the second raid in Honeydew.