Rescued women back home and receive counselling
13 Nov 2025
The Botswana Police Service have confirmed that the three women who recently escaped falling victim to a suspected human trafficking syndicate in South Africa have been repatriated to Botswana and were receiving conselling and psychological support at a safe house.
The three were rescued at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa over the weekend.
According to BPS spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Near Bagali, on November 6, a case of suspected human trafficking was reported at the Selebi Phikwe Police Station involving a 20-year-old woman whose parents said she had claimed to have found employment in the United Kingdom.
“The following day, two missing person reports were filed, which were later linked to the same suspected trafficking network,” he said.
The women, aged between 20 and 23, were reportedly lured through social media platforms with promises of lucrative job opportunities in Sierra Leone.
The syndicate's planned travel route was to take them from Botswana through South Africa and Nairobi before reaching their final destination.
According to media reports, suspicious travel patterns alerted airport authorities, prompting an investigation that exposed the trafficking attempt.
The swift coordination between the South African Police Service, INTERPOL, the Botswana Police Service and the Botswana High Commission in Pretoria led to the women being intercepted and safely removed from the situation before boarding their connecting flight.
Mr Bagali further revealed that investigations were ongoing to trace the recruiters behind the scheme, who were believed to operate across borders using social media to lure unsuspecting job seekers.
Mr Bagali credited the strong cooperation between Botswana and South African law enforcement agencies for the timely interception of the women at O.R. Tambo and their safe return home.
He also urged the public, particularly young people seeking employment abroad, to verify all job offers through legitimate channels and to avoid sharing travel documents or personal details with unverified individuals. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Taboka ngwako
Location : Gaborone
Event : Interview
Date : 13 Nov 2025
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