South Africa deports 95 Libyans arrested in illegal military training camp

South Africa on Sunday deported 95 Libyan citizens who were arrested last month in a suspected military camp in Mpumalanga state in the northeast of the country.

The Libyans, who entered South Africa in April on study permits to become security guards, were arrested in July during a police raid on a military training camp in the town of White River, in Mpumalanga. The police say that they found military training equipment and drugs in the camp.

The Libyans are alleged to have received illegal military training, violating the conditions of their visas and South African immigration law.

The South African Ministry of Home Affairs has revoked the Libyans' visas, saying they obtained them through smuggling in Tunisia.

They appeared three times in the White River court and last week the prosecution dropped the charges against them. But they have been deported and taken to Benghazi through the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

The Minister of the Interior of South Africa, Leon Schreiber has said that his ministry will continue to use all its powers to ensure that immigration laws are respected in the country.