Hillbrow Crime Crackdown: Over 200 Undocumented Foreign Nationals Arrested

Law enforcement authorities in Johannesburg have intensified their crackdown on crime, arresting more than 200 undocumented foreign nationals in Hillbrow. The large-scale operation, led by MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku, focused on tackling undocumented immigration and illicit activities.

MMC for Public Safety in Johannesburg, Mgcini Tshakwu is conducting a joint operation called ‘Nomakanjani Manje Namhlanje’ in Hillbrow with other law enforcement agents in the inner city to curb crime and rid the city of undocumented foreign nationals.@Jay_Mbatha pic.twitter.com/pC8MMSRFNe

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 5, 2025

The operation, conducted with assistance from Home Affairs officials and private security, covered Quartz, Esselen, and Kotze Streets. Officers seized a range of illegal goods, including drugs and counterfeit alcohol ingredients.

Among those apprehended was an alleged drug dealer on Esselen Street, identified through an undercover crime intelligence operation. The suspect, a foreign national, was reportedly selling rock, marijuana, and other illicit substances.

A crime intelligence officer involved in the operation detailed how he infiltrated the area to gather evidence. “I spend time in the area, buy drugs, document transactions, and collect intel so that when we return, we have confirmed everything,” he said.

The Joburg Department of Public Safety confirmed that more drug-related raids will follow based on intelligence gathered during this operation. Authorities remain committed to dismantling criminal networks operating in the city’s inner areas.

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