Authority intercepts 25 foreigners at SA airport

Twenty-five foreigners were intercepted and deported by Border Management Authority (BMA) immigration officials at OR Tambo International Airport last Tuesday trying to enter SA illegally. A TimesLIVE report notes that 13 Bangladeshis and three Pakistanis were found to be in possession of fake visitors’ visas, while one Bangladeshi, a Nigerian, three Pakistanis and four Ghanaians failed to meet the entry requirements on arrival. They were intercepted on flights from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana and Nigeria. The BMA said they were deported back in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations. According to the BMA, the airport has been a target with travellers attempting to enter the country illegally. On Sunday, five Bangladeshis and five Ethiopians were intercepted in collaboration with the Airports Company SA. BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato has warned travellers in contravention of the Immigration Act. He commended the operations by BMA officials at the airport, saying as the biggest and busiest airport in Africa, detection systems need to be advanced. The BMA said it will intensify operations with the deployment of an additional 400 junior border guards who started duty on 1 June at various ports of entry.