Ninety-five Libyan nationals have been arrested on suspicion of receiving training at an “illegal” military camp in South Africa, police have said.
Officers raided the farm near White River – a small town in the northern province of Mpumalanga – on Friday.
They said they found military tents, licenced firearms and other military equipment.
Cannabis and cocaine were also found at the camp, the police said.
Officers conducted the raid after receiving intelligence on Wednesday.
According to national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said, the Libyans allegedly “misrepresented themselves” on their visa applications by saying they would be training as security guards.
The camp in question was initially registered as security training site, the police said, but it appears to have been converted.
“We take any threat to the security and stability of our province and country very seriously,” police commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi was quoted as saying in a police statement.
However, the same statement assured the public that there was “no immediate threat to community safety”.
The 95 Libyan nationals have been taken into custody and are being questioned by the relevant authorities.
The police have not said who the detainees might have been receiving military training from.
