Interpol - The African Mirror

Mar

2022

Interpol red notice: what it means and why South Africa requested it

THE International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has issued a red notice for two members of the wealthy but now disgraced Gupta family, Atul and Rajesh Gupta. This could now pave way for their arrest and extradition from the United Arab Emirates to face fraud and money laundering charges in South Africa. The Guptas – who at their height owned a business empire spanning computer equipment, media, and mining – are close friends of former President Jacob Zuma. A judicial commission of inquiry into state capture recently found that, with Zuma’s help, they orchestrated massive corruption. Thabo Leshilo asked Bernadine Benson…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Interpol considers “red notices” for Guptas

NEWS

INTERPOL "red notices" urging the arrest of the businessman brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta - friends of former president Jacob Zuma - and their wives for alleged fraud and money laundering are being considered, according to the South African prosecutors. A red notice is a request to law enforcement officials worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. Contacted for comment, Interpol said many red notices are not made public and referred Reuters to South Africa's national police authorities for further information. South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday that the…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

NPA seizes R520-million in Gupta assets

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER The multi-million rand mansion in Saxonworld, Johannesburg and a house in Constantia, Cape Town, owned by the Gupta family are among the assets worth R520-million seized by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) today following a court order. The NPA's Investigations Directorate was today granted an interim order by the Bloemfontein High Court to seize and preserve the assets of the family, including those owned by their business associates. Properties seized include the Morningside, Johannesburg house owned by Iqbal Sharma and his wife Tarina Patel, the Gupta business associate who is in jail, pending a bail application. The…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Dozens arrested in global human trafficking raids

NEWS

CHRISTINE MURRAY NEARLY 90 people have been arrested for human trafficking offences following an international police operation that also led to 500 victims being found, including some children, the Interpol global police coordination agency has revealed. Police in 24 countries including Kenya, Brazil and France took part in Operation Weka, which was carried out between March 28 and April 2, and comes as experts warn that the pandemic has hampered efforts to bring traffickers to justice. The operation led to 195 arrests in total, including 88 in connection with trafficking crimes. The rest were mainly for migrant smuggling and related…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Fight against COVID-19 mafias – Pope Francis

COVID-19

PHILLIP PULLELLA POPE Francis yesterday urged people to fight organised crime groups such as the mafia around the world, warning that the criminals were using the COVID-19 pandemic to further enrich themselves. In December, the Paris-based Interpol police co-ordination issued a global alert warning that organised criminal networks were targeting COVID-19 vaccines. In March, South African police seized hundreds of fake vaccines and arrested four suspects. "Mafias are present in various part of the world and, taking advantage of the pandemic, they are enriching themselves through corruption," Francis said, speaking at his Sunday noon address on the day Italy remembers…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Fake COVID-19 vaccines gang bust – 4 arrested

NEWS

SOUTH African police have seized hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines and arrested four suspects in connection with the haul, the Interpol global police coordination agency said. This comes after Interpol, which is headquartered in France, issued a global alert in December to law enforcement across its 194 member countries, warning them to prepare for organised crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online. Some 400 ampoules - equivalent to around 2,400 doses - containing the fake vaccine were found at a warehouse in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, where officers also recovered a large quantity of fake 3M masks, the…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Traffickers, smugglers exploiting COVID-19, Interpol warns after global crackdown

WORLD

KIERAN GUILBERT DOZENS of suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued and more than 200 people arrested in a global crackdown on smuggling and trafficking networks, Interpol has announced. The recent week-long operation involved authorities from 32 nations across several continents and led to the identification of 3,500 irregular migrants, the global police agency said. About 100 potential trafficking victims were found and helped in Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Spain and Uruguay as part of Operation Turquesa II, Interpol said. The operation highlighted how the coronavirus pandemic has left a rising number of people vulnerable to trafficking worldwide,…