BMA says with the use of technology, they are able to track people, who are aiding criminal activities at the borderline.

BMA says the deployment of sophisticated technology has helped them to arrest hundreds of people during Easter weekend. The institution's Deputy Commissioner, Rudzani Mpilo, says the drones have also assisted their officials in tracking and arresting people who were aiding in the smuggling of goods over the Limpopo River. Mpilo says smugglers are transported illegally to smuggling spots, where they load goods and people onto boats.

“We want to send a strong warning to people who facilitating illegal activities, those who are adding and abating the smuggling of goods from here in South Africa and the other side, we now have the help of artificial intelligence. We are able to track the movements and deploy boots on the ground”, Mpilo said.

Mpilo further says they have arrested 1 385 illegal immigrants over the Easter holidays through the deployment of drones at Beitbridge border post.

“From day we were able to arrest about thousand-385 illegal immigrants over the Easter Holiday. Great number of them crossing illegally and a smaller number of those who are facilitators, helping people to move illegally between the countries”, Mpilo said.

The BMA says movements at the Groblersbridge Border Post in Lephalale have been smooth over the Easter weekend. Operations at the border post between SA and Botswana were suspended in March, due to floods damage.

“In Globlerbridge things were moving very well. You will remember we had to close the border after the flooding but it was operating from the April 17. A lot of people who were coming from Botswana for church in South Africa (SA) used that border post”, Mpilo said.

The agency says it has apprehended over 4 000 undocumented immigrants since April 2023.

---SABC---