The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in East London has arrested an additional suspect in a long-running human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation case that has shocked the Eastern Cape.
The arrest was carried out on 22 May 2026 in Johannesburg, where a 30-year-old woman was taken into custody. She is expected to appear before the East London Magistrate’s Court on 25 May 2026.
The investigation dates back to 2023, when the Hawks’ Trafficking in Persons team received intelligence about a property in Quigney, East London, allegedly being used as a brothel and a centre for organised sexual exploitation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that several young women from different parts of the Eastern Cape were allegedly recruited, transported, and forced into prostitution under coercive and exploitative conditions.
Authorities have commended the investigating team for their persistence in pursuing the case over several years. They also acknowledged the role played by community members and the media in assisting law enforcement with information that helped track down the suspect.
Investigations are continuing as authorities work to identify and apprehend all those involved in the alleged trafficking network.
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