By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Immigration Department has arrested 26 Ethiopians in Nakonde who tried to enter the country illegally.
Immigration Department public relations officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement yesterday that on Sunday last weekend, 26 Ethiopians tried to enter the country illegally using two vehicles around 01:00 hours.
Mr Nshinka said the suspected prohibited immigrants were apprehended at an area about 60 kilometres to Isoka by Immigration officers.
They were travelling in two vehicles, a Noah and an Elgrand both Zambian registered.
Mr Nshinka said the drivers of the vehicles both escaped.
“One of the suspected prohibited immigrants revealed that they had paid some unnamed agents in order to be smuggled through Zambia to South Africa, their alleged final destination.
“They are currently being held in Nakonde pending further investigations,” he said.
Mr Nshinka said the two vehicles have been impounded.
Meanwhile, on Thursday last week, the Immigration Department formally charged 13 of the 35 suspected prohibited immigrants arrested on September 21, 2014 at Global Impact Ministries in Marapodi Township during a joint operation involving The Registrar of Societies, Immigration and Police.
Mr Nshinka said the 13 were charged with various immigration offences including being found outside a refugee camp while others were handed over to the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees for Asylum interviews.
In a related development, the Immigration Department in Kabwe on Saturday removed 13 Ethiopians from the country.
Mr Nshinka also said the Immigration Department on Wednesday September 24, this year in Chibombo rounded up 12 people in a mini operation.
He said four Congolese were detained after the screening process and they are currently in Kabwe pending prosecution on charges of unlawful stay.