MBABANE - The United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shown interest in the ongoing case involving dozens of foreign nationals arrested in Eswatini.
The FBI has written to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), requesting detailed background information and progress updates from local investigators, as the probe deepens into what is believed to be a complex transnational matter.
The FBI is the United States’ main federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating serious crimes that threaten national security and cross State or international borders.
Its work includes counterterrorism, cybercrime, organised crime, espionage, major fraud and violent crime investigations. It also works closely with international partners, such as Interpol and foreign police services, when cases have cross-border implications.
This development was disclosed by the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, who confirmed that the REPS has already furnished the FBI with comprehensive information regarding the arrests, including background details and the status of investigations.
The commissioner was asked by this publication to provide an update on the progress of investigations into the matter, which has attracted international attention.
Masango said the FBI has further indicated its intention to send a team of investigators to Eswatini to engage directly with local authorities and participate in aspects of the ongoing investigation.
“The FBI has shown interest in this matter. They have requested background information and updates on the developments, which we have already provided. They have also indicated that they will be coming into the country for further engagement and investigative cooperation,” Masango said.
The development marks a significant escalation in international attention on the case, which involves the arrest of several foreign nationals who were detained in Eswatini under circumstances that have drawn the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies.
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Foreign nationals not trafficked, recruited under job promises - cops
MBABANE - Investigations by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) reveal that the foreign nationals arrested in the country were not trafficked.
It is said they entered Eswatini after being promised employment by the alleged syndicate kingpins.
National Commissioner of Police Vusi Manoma Masango disclosed that preliminary findings indicate the individuals voluntarily moved across borders as part of a wider international network linked to the suspected online gambling operations.
He said the investigation suggests that the recruitment and movement of the foreign nationals originated in Cambodia, where the scheme reportedly began before the individuals dispersed to different countries following attempts to evade detection.
“The foreign nationals were not trafficked. Our investigations have established that they were recruited and promised jobs by the kingpins behind this operation,” Masango said.
He explained that following developments in Cambodia, some of the individuals allegedly fled the operation, with others moving to neighbouring countries, including Mozambique.
He said their operations in Mozambique were short-lived as they were identified, which led to a group eventually making its way into Eswatini.
Masango further revealed that similar attempts to establish or continue the same operations in Mozambique were reportedly intercepted by law enforcement authorities there, forcing some of the suspects to relocate again.
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3 found to be on red notice for same crime
MBABANE – Three of the arrested foreign nationals, in connection with an alleged online gambling and cyber fraud syndicate, have been identified as among the most wanted suspects internationally.
Police have indicated that the trio is believed to be kingpins in a wider transnational criminal network.
This was revealed by National Commissioner of Police Vusi Manoma Masango.
The national commissioner said preliminary investigations have uncovered that some of the suspects were already wanted in their respective countries for similar offences and had been placed on international red notices.
Masango said the suspects are believed to have been operating under the same modus operandi across different jurisdictions, targeting victims through sophisticated online scams linked to gambling and fraudulent investment schemes.
He said the individuals allegedly used highly deceptive set-ups, including staged environments designed to resemble legitimate police stations in foreign countries, to convince victims that they were dealing with real law enforcement officers during online interactions.
“In some of the premises where these individuals were operating, we discovered setups that looked like police stations from different countries, for example Brazil.
“When they were communicating with victims through their gadgets, the victims were made to believe they were speaking to real police officers in a real police station,” Masango said.
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Li Peng Chi, a Director of Xwin (Proprietary) Limited, has disputed allegations of unlawfully hiring 20 foreign nationals. He is pictured with Lawyer Sifiso Jele. (Pics Kwanele Dlamini)