They are facing charges related to the contravention of South Africa’s (SA) Foreign Military Assistance Regulation Act.
One of them is a senior media personality.
According to the Hawks, the arrests followed a tip-off from police officers from the country’s OR Tambo International Airport about four men who were en route to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
The four were removed from the boarding gate as suspicious and referred to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State section.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that a South African female had been facilitating the travel and recruitment of these individuals into the Russian Federation Military. A search and seizure warrant was obtained for an additional suspect who is believed to be involved in the facilitation of the four individuals as well as the fifth who had already left the country for Russia,” SA police said in a statement.
Police are also working with their intelligence and international counterparts to investigate the case.
The four are expected to appear before Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
–SABC–
