BMA Seizes Illegal Goods, Arrests 8,000 Over Border Violations In Major Crackdown

South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) has confiscated and destroyed thousands of illegal health products, including 5,000 illicit birth control pills, 117 medical test kits and various skin-lightening creams.

This was confirmed by BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato during a briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.

He also revealed that 8,000 people were arrested between July and September in the second quarter of the 2025–2026 financial year for attempting to enter the country unlawfully. Most of those apprehended were Basotho nationals, followed by Mozambicans and Zimbabweans.

Masiapato said the update came “at a critical time when the nation is currently observing the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children,” adding that the BMA remained committed to ensuring “the protection and seamless facilitation of the movement of women and all the vulnerable groups” across the country’s 71 ports of entry.

Border Security Operations Intensify During G20 and Festive Season

The Commissioner highlighted that the briefing followed the authority’s successful facilitation of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which saw the arrival of more than 40 heads of state, senior government delegations, technical teams and journalists.

“This was the second-largest international event which the BMA had to facilitate since the BRICS summit which was held in August of 2023,” he said, noting that it helped strengthen high-security protocols.

According to the BMA’s second-quarter performance report, the authority achieved 11 of its 12 set targets — a 92% achievement rate — despite longstanding operational challenges. The quarter saw intensified activity driven by preparations for more than 40 G20 track meetings.

During this period, immigration officers processed 9,283,658 travellers — a 23% increase from the same period in 2024. The Grobler’s Bridge port of entry also recorded a surge of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members travelling for the annual September pilgrimage to Moria in Limpopo.

Drones Aid in Thousands of Apprehensions and Goods Interceptions

Masiapato reported that surveillance technology, particularly drones, played a key role in detecting illegal crossings. About 8,135 apprehensions were made, including 4,092 undocumented individuals, 2,061 classified as inadmissible, and 1,982 deemed undesirables.

“The majority of the intercepted foreign nationals were Basotho, followed by Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Swati nationals,” he said, adding that the pattern reflected longstanding regional migration trends.

Since July 2022, border guards have stopped more than 505,000 people from entering the country illegally. This quarter alone, 15 suspected stolen high-powered vehicles were intercepted before they could be smuggled out, bringing the total to 349 vehicles recovered since 2022.

Counterfeit clothing and footwear weighing 1,700 kg and valued at over R1.28 million were also confiscated, raising the cumulative total to an estimated R220 million since deployment began.

Authorities additionally seized half a kilogram of crystal meth, 240 grams of heroin, illicit cigarettes worth R827,500 and around 40 fraudulent travel documents.

Health and Agricultural Screening Strengthened at Ports of Entry

Port health teams screened 172,858 travellers, denying entry to 73 who failed to provide valid yellow fever certificates. They processed 997 mortal remains, of which 964 were exports and 33 imports, with 25 returned due to incomplete documentation.

Health officials processed 43,729 consignments and intercepted illicit pills, test kits and skin-lightening creams flagged by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for containing harmful ingredients such as mercury, hydroquinone and tropical steroids — substances linked to “skin damage, kidney complications, and long-term toxicity.”

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Port teams also conducted malaria tests on 969 travellers, confirming 57 positive cases that were later referred for treatment.

In the agricultural sector, 39,316 consignments and 1,241 CITES shipments were cleared.

Masiapato further announced that, in partnership with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the BMA has secured permanent operational space for Coastal Guards at Mossel Bay, Gqeberha, Richards Bay and East London. “This is a critical development towards establishing BMA’s full-time presence in these critical seaports,” he said.

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