06 Aug 2026

To date, 22 Batswana aged between 19 and 48 have been reported missing after allegedly traveling abroad in search of employment opportunities.

 A press release from Botswana Police Service (BPS) states that eight others were intercepted before reaching their intended destinations, with two rescued in a foreign country through the intervention of authorities.

The release says that families have reported to various police stations that they have not heard from their children, siblings, or relatives for several months while repeated attempts to contact them through telephone calls, social media and other communication platforms have been unsuccessful.

“While they travelled in the hope of improving their livelihoods and supporting their families, communication with some of them has since ceased, leaving relatives distressed and searching for answers,” says the release.  

The ages of the missing individuals according to the release, underscores that the growing concern affected a broad cross-section of the adult population and highlighted the growing vulnerability of job seekers to fraudulent overseas recruitment schemes.

It further states that these reports raise concerns about fraudulent recruitment schemes that might expose job seekers to human trafficking, labour exploitation or other forms of transactional organised crime while Botswana Police Service believed additional cases might have gone unreported.

“Despite continuous public awareness campaigns and repeated warning, some Batswana continue to travel abroad in pursuit of employment opportunities under uncertain and unverified circumstances. Unfortunately, this desperation is increasingly being exploited by unscrupulous individuals and criminal networks who lure unsuspecting job seekers with promises of lucrative employment, only for them to find themselves in compromising and often dangerous situations,” states the release.

The police service therefore, urges the public to exercise extreme caution before accepting employment opportunities abroad and encourages job seekers to verify that recruitment agencies are legally registered and licenced.

Prospective employees are to seek guidance from the Ministry for International Relations before travelling overseas as well as avoid making payment to recruiters or agencies whose credentials cannot be independently verified.

The release states that job seekers are encouraged to carefully review employment contracts and seek professional advice where necessary and be cautious of offers promising unusually high salaries or fully funded travel and accommodation.

Job seekers are also encouraged to keep and share copies of travel documents, employment contracts, and recruiter details and where in doubt, cancel travel plans, even if already en-route and seek assistance from airport officials.

BPS reaffirms its commitment to investigating all reported cases and continues to work closely with relevant local and international partners to establish the whereabouts of the missing persons and facilitate their safe return where possible. ENDS