Durban - In the wake of the Manchester bombing and a heightened global terror threat, Durban has emerged as a conduit for people trying to gain illegal entry into the US.
In a counter-terrorism crackdown, 30 people have been arrested in the city by the Hawks Organised Crime Unit which is working alongside the local US embassy.
Two of the arrests took place this week.
US Embassy spokesperson Heidi Ramsay referred questions about the operation to the police.
“Due to law enforcement sensitivities and privacy considerations, we are unable to provide any further information,” she said.
Hawks KZN spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo confirmed the 30 arrests and said more were imminent.
“This operation is ongoing,” he said.
All the suspects used counterfeit South African documentation to apply for US visas, apparently paying a local syndicate R25 000 to get them through the system.
It is understood that Durban was red-flagged when there was a disproportionally high number of out-of-town applicants using the local visa and immigration office for their travel documentation.
The latest arrests include a couple from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who were nabbed outside the US Consulate in Durban on Wednesday.
