The South African security forces, assisted by other government departments, have launched a maritime borderline patrol of the Republic of South Africa's east coast from Cape Agulhas to Kosi Bay.
The operation began on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 and will be finalised on Friday 30 April 2010 and the objective is to enforce legislation along the Republic of South Africa's coastline, which is of strategic importance to the country, both as an economic area and as a transportation route.
The South African Navy frigate, the Special Air Service (SAS) Amatola, set sail from Simon's Town late yesterday afternoon accompanied by the marine and coastal management's fisheries protection vessel, the Lilian Ngoyi.
Various members of the South African Police Service and members of the intelligence agencies, as well as customs officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), representatives of the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are on board to the SAS Amatola with the South African Navy crew in this inter-departmental law enforcement project.
A South African Air Force Lynx helicopter is lending aerial assistance in locating and identifying vessels to board. The operation will focus on locating, stopping and searching vessels and crews and if necessary, seising vessels transgressing South African law. The main focus will be the search for drug trafficking, the smuggling of humans, weapons and counterfeit goods and fishery transgressions.
Boarding will be conducted mainly on vessels up to and including 500 tonnes which includes coasters, fishing vessels, yachts and leisure craft. Within hours of having set sail by early Wednesday morning, three vessels had already been approached and interrogated by the security forces.
The operation is being commanded by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) situated in Pretoria.
During the trip, the vessels will visit the ports of East London, Port Elizabeth and Durban. The Special Air Service UMzimkhulu, a navy mine counter measures vessel will join the operation in Durban. This is one of the joint security related exercises being conducted in the run up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Enquiries:
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Issued by: South African Police Service
7 April 2010
