Six Russians arrested in George for illegally entering South Africa were released on Tuesday after they each paid a R1 000 admission of guilt fine, Western Cape police said. Captain Eddie Cronje said on Wednesday the six used a private Volga Airways plane to enter the country on Saturday and failed to present themselves to the immigration control office on their arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport. The men remained at the airport’s international transit lounge before flying to George on Sunday and were arrested on Monday. Cronje said they had come to South Africa to purchase explosives from the government company, Soekor. According to Department of Home Affairs spokesman, Leslie Mashokwe, the Russians claimed they had a mining business in the Democratic Republic of Congo and would be transporting the explosives there. They were all granted temporary residence permits. – Sapa