2024-07-29 05:37:52
South Africa’s National Police Chief, General Fanny Masemola, has announced new details in the case of the arrest of 95 Libyans inside a camp in their country, saying that the police are cooperating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate how the detainees obtained entry visas to South Africa.
General Masemola explained in press statements that they seized narcotic substances such as marijuana and cocaine, in addition to weapons, inside the camp.
On Friday morning, South African police said they had arrested 95 Libyan nationals on suspicion of receiving training at a secret military camp in the north of the country.
Police spokesman Donald Mdhluli said police activated the Provincial Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (ProvJoints) two days ago after receiving intelligence about the suspected camp, noting that the site was raided in collaboration with intelligence and interior ministry officials.
Madhloli pointed out that the place that was initially designated as a training site appears to have been transformed into an illegal military training base, according to him.
According to the Associated Press, police raided the camp on a farm in White River in Mpumalanga province, about 360 kilometers northeast of Johannesburg.
National police spokeswoman Athlinda Mathi said in a post on social media site X that the Libyans stated that they entered the country on student visas to train as security guards but police investigations indicate that they received military training.
Newsroom Africa TV broadcast images of the arrest site showing a military camp with green tents.
Police said the operation to arrest the Libyans and close the camp began two days ago, noting that the site had apparently been turned into an illegal military training base.
The 95 individuals arrested are all Libyan nationals and are currently being interrogated by the relevant authorities, Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi said in a statement.
Source: South African Police Statement + Associated Press + Agence France-Presse
2024-07-29 05:37:52