The German suspect was apprehended in Turkey while traveling with a fraudulent Israeli passport and was subsequently deported back to South Africa.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has successfully apprehended a German national who had been evading authorities for years, after being placed on Interpol’s most wanted list. This major breakthrough occurred during a routine border operation at OR Tambo International Airport on November 15.
Dr. Michael Masiapato, Commissioner of the BMA, hailed the interception as a testament to the effectiveness of South Africa’s integrated border management strategy, which has been enhanced by a recent partnership with Interpol. On November 14, Masiapato and Brigadier Ntime Mokhine, the Executive Director of Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Pretoria, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two agencies and ensuring better security at South Africa’s ports of entry.
The German suspect had been detained in Turkey after being found traveling with a fraudulent Israeli passport. After being deported to South Africa on November 8, BMA officials quickly realized that the suspect, although speaking with a German accent, was claiming to be Israeli. Further investigation, including verification by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), confirmed that he was not an Israeli national. This prompted BMA officials to contact Interpol, which revealed that the suspect had been evading capture for over eight years for drug trafficking.
The investigation also uncovered that the suspect had been living under a new identity in Malawi, holding a Malawian temporary residence permit, and was suspected of stealing an Israeli identity to facilitate his movements. Interpol immediately took action and arrested the suspect, who remains in custody awaiting extradition to Germany. Masiapato commended the officials involved in the operation, emphasizing that this interception highlights the BMA’s critical role in safeguarding South Africa’s borders and reinforcing global cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.
“The success of this operation shows how vital our partnerships with Interpol and other international agencies are in protecting South Africa’s security,” Masiapato stated. “Our commitment to securing our ports of entry against criminal activities, including human trafficking and other illegal practices, remains unwavering.
