South African police arrested 95 Libyan nationals at a suspected military training base in White River, Mpumalanga, on Friday.
Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the pre-dawn raid, which also involved the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which includes Crime Intelligence and officials from the Department of Home Affairs, followed intelligence inputs.
95 Libyans arrested for conducting illegal military training and terrorising locals in White River, Mpumalanga!
Yeses! pic.twitter.com/U8UJNiVTPK
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) July 26, 2024
“The place, which was initially designated as a training site, appears to have been converted into an illegal military training base,” he was quoted as saying.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said a special team was investigating the activities at the farm.
“During the takedown operation, police also found dagga and cocaine. Some of the other drugs found in their possession are being sent to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria to identify them as illegal substances,” said Masemola.
The police and the home affairs department were trying to determine how the Libyans obtained their visas, he said.
“The safety and security of our citizens is of paramount importance and the SAPS remains committed to dealing decisively with transnational organised crime,” he said.
When the raid team reached the site, they found “the Libyans housed in military tents,” said National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. “Military training equipment was also found, including licenced firearms. SAPS detectives cannot rule out the possibility that the farm that is accredited as a security training site is allegedly being utilised as an illegal military training camp,” he added.
The police took any threat to national security “very seriously” because “that is our primary mandate,” said Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting police commissioner of Mpumalanga. “This operation demonstrates our commitment to acting swiftly and decisively against any activities that could undermine our national interests and ensure the safety of our citizens,” he said.
While the investigation remains active, police have reassured the public that there is no immediate threat to community safety.
(With Agency Inputs)
