A Gauteng couple's report to the international Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat led to the Panamanian ship Frontier Asuka being searched by authorities for nearly two days when it docked in Port Talbot, Wales. Mark and Anouschika Hageman became involved in the search for Joshlin Smith after the Rev June Dolley-Major informed them that the Panamanian ship had left the Port of Saldanha on 23 February. The Hagemans reported this to the International Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat and after the boat docked in Port Talbot, Wales, the police searched it on Saturday, 16 March, and Sunday, 17 March.
South Wales Police Chief Inspector Jason Herbert stated that alongside colleagues from partner agencies, specialist South Wales police teams were deployed to the ship. However, after a thorough examination of the vessel, no evidence was discovered of any missing person. Mark Hageman downloaded a boat tracker app and followed the ship's route to Port Talbot. Authorities in the UK were notified and the ship was searched.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said that a ship was searched in London after information had been received that Joshlin could be aboard. He said the net has gone far beyond the borders of South Africa, working with sister organizations such as Interpol and other organizations. He said clothing samples collected for DNA testing had not been linked to Joshlin.
Joshlin went missing on 19 February near Tsitsiratsitsi in Saldanha. Her mother, Racquel Chantel Smith, claimed the last time she saw her daughter was when she left for work at about 8am that day. She left the little girl with her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, and that Joshlin was not there when she arrived home at around 5pm.
