Nine foreign nationals have been intercepted and arrested by the Hawks for allegedly attempting to leave South Africa to participate in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were apprehended on Sunday night during a highly coordinated, intelligence-driven sting operation.

The crackdown was executed by a multidisciplinary team that included INTERPOL, the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit, SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Gauteng Provincial Tracking Team, and various private security entities.

Authorities swooped on the suspects across two locations in Johannesburg: some were intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport just as they were preparing to board flights out of the country, while the remainder were rounded up at a hotel in Bruma.

The individuals were allegedly attempting to travel from South Africa to join the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The suspects face imminent prosecution for violating South Africa’s strict Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998, which prohibits mercenary activities and unauthorised foreign military involvement.

Brigadier Paulina Sekgobela, the Gauteng provincial head of the Hawks, highly commended the law enforcement teams for their precise synchronization.

She reiterated that South African agencies will continue to work alongside global watchdogs like INTERPOL to ensure the country’s territory is not used to violate international and domestic laws.

The nine suspects are scheduled to make their first legal appearance at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. Investigations remain active to determine the masterminds behind their travel arrangements and recruitment pipelines.

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