Sixty-seven Pakistani nationals have been intercepted at the OR Tambo International Airport after allegedly entering the country illegally. The foreigners failed to comply with South Africa’s immigration laws.

The Department of Home Affairs says the Pakistani nationals were on a flight with 268 passengers and all had “questionable” visas. The flight had departed for South Africa from Dubai.

The interception was a result of a sting operation led by the Department of Home Affairs Counter Corruption Branch, the Hawks and the Border Management Authority (BMA) after observing suspicious trends.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the foreigners were questioned by immigration officers about their purpose of being in South Africa and where they were going to stay.

However, they provided conflicting evidence such as giving names of non-existent hotels, names of relatives – some of whom didn’t even exist.

The group has since been sent back to their home country at their own cost.