The Hawks have arrested 10 police officers and five home affairs officials at a Free State border post with Lesotho.
The arrested officials were among 18 people arrested at the Ficksburg border post for the alleged creation of fake travel documents.
The suspects were also allegedly endorsing expired passports.
Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that 18 people had been arrested in a crime intelligence operation for corruption.
He said the suspects were arrested after they allegedly told undercover police agents that they could arrange fake travel documents for R200 a document.
"In the arrests an off-duty policeman‚ who was one of the arrested suspects‚ led Hawks officers to a house where R24‚000 in cash and 17 watches‚ valued at over R100‚000 each‚ were recovered."
Netshiunda said the suspects also allegedly demanded other forms of bribes for the documents.
"Some of the suspects were arrested while on duty."
He said the operation followed similar recent arrests at the Maseru‚ Beit Bridge and Vioolsdrift border posts.
"The suspects will appear in the Ficksburg Magistrate's court tomorrow [Thursday] on charges of fraud‚ corruption and for contravening the Immigration Act."
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
