Bloemfontein - The South African Police Services (SAPS) in the Free State province, have arrested three Chinese nationals earlier this week. The trio ( two males and a female) where found with machines that manufacturers and clone fake data and sim cards. The trio were arrested on Tuesday, 2 July 2024 by a multi-faceted team comprising different police units, government departments, private security, and forensic investigators.
They made their first court appearance on Thursday, the 4th of July 2024 in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court. They where charged with fraud, illegal possession of firearms, and illegal possession ammunition. The Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Mokgadi Bokaba said "The police received a tip-off from the community. They then acquired the search and seizure operation, duly authorised by the court."
"The community complained about two houses in Woodlands, Bloemfontein. Police investigating team reacted to the information and found unknown machines used to clone data and manufacture sim cards. Sim cards of different service providers to an estimated value of over R1 million where found, along with suspected cloning machines, cash, two firearms, and rounds of ammunition were amongst items recovered at the two houses.
The alleged crime was condemned by the Free State Hawks, they thanked the community for the tip-off and commended everyone involved in the operation for their diligence and teamwork.
Source:
https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=54165