Another foreign national arrested on way to Russia-Ukraine war

Another foreign national has been arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to travel to Russia to fight in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

The 38-year-old suspect was arrested on Wednesday night, 11 November, following an intelligence-driven operation involving the Hawks, Interpol and several law enforcement agencies.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates' Court on Thursday, where he will face charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the arrest was carried out by a multidisciplinary team comprising Interpol Pretoria, the Hawks' Crimes Against the State and Serious Organised Crime Investigation units based in Germiston, SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Modus Operandi Centre, the Gauteng Provincial Tracking Team, international law enforcement agencies and private security companies.

Mogale said the team acted on intelligence gathered during an investigation before operationalising an intervention that led to the suspect's arrest.

The suspect allegedly intended to travel to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine.

The arrest comes amid growing scrutiny of South Africans and other foreign nationals allegedly being recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.