HAWKS
Egyptian lured to SA and assaulted
Arrests in human trafficking case
While South Africans celebrated Freedom Day on 27 April 2026, the Hawks’ George based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team took away the freedom of 49-year-old suspected human trafficker, Emaed Ibrahim Hikal.
The Hawks, the elite South African police unit, was assisted by Bredasdorp police after receiving information about a possible victim of trafficking in Oudtshoorn.
Meticulous investigation by the Hawks revealed that the victim was lured by the suspect to come to South Africa from Egypt as he was unemployed. The suspect allegedly offered to employ the victim in South Africa.
When he arrived his travel documents were confiscated by the suspect and the victim allegedly worked without pay and was assaulted.
Eamaed made his first appearance in the Oudtshoorn Magistrates Court on 28 April 2026. The matter was postponed to 30 April 2026.
This is the second suspect who is behind bars in this matter. Amado Hikal (27), was arrested on 24 March 2026 and has already appeared in court. Amado will also appear again on 30 April 2026 for a bail application.
State to sell dealer's bakkie
Drug vehicle seized
IN COURT: The Cape Town High Court has granted the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation team (PCSI) in collaboration with National Prosecuting Authority’s Assets Forfeiture Unit a final asset forfeiture order for a vehicle used to transport drugs.
According to a media statement by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (also known as the Hawks) the incident in which the driver was caught happened exactly 11 years ago on 16 March 2015.
The court order was issued on 19 February 2026 and delivered to the Hawks on 16 March 2026.
According to the Hawks the SA Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) together with the Paarl K9 unit acted on information about a vehicle that was transporting drugs from Gauteng to Cape Town. The vehicle was spotted at the Huguenot Plaza, pulled over and searched.
More than 100 mandrax tablets and 10 000 ecstasy tablets, worth over R6,4-million were found inside the vehicle, an Isuzu Bakkie fitted with hidden compartments.
The driver, Ruben Naicker, was arrested for dealing in narcotics. He was sentenced on 4 February 2025 to three years direct imprisonment after entering into plea bargain with the state.