BMA records more than 9000 arrests and deportations between April and June

PRETORIA - The Border Management Authority (BMA) has recorded more than 9000 arrests and deportations of persons attempting to enter the country illegally between April and June this year.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato unpacked the authority’s report for the first quarter at a press briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.

Part of the briefing addressed the conventional border law enforcement work undertaken by guards across ports of entry.

READ: Border Management Authority to release its quarterly report and unveil new security measures

Masiapato said since July 2022, the BMA has been able to stop more than 400,000 people attempting to enter the country illegally.

Between April and June this year, he said more than 9000 arrests and deportations were recorded.

“Of the 9954 persons, 5826 were undocumented, 2127 were inadmissible, and 2001 were undesirable,” said Masiapato.

He added that guards also intercepted more than 300 vehicles that were meant to be smuggled out of the country by criminal syndicates.

“In terms of document fraud, 14 passports bearing fraudulent immigration stamps were identified and confiscated, further illustrating ongoing attempts to undermine national security and immigration controls,” he added.