The Department of Immigration has apprehended 19 people for various offences ranging from human smuggling and unlawful entry in Zambia.

Department of Immigration public relations officer Namati Nshinka confirmed the development in a statement availed to News Diggers! in Lusaka, Monday.

“The Department of Immigration on Friday, 11th May, 2018, apprehended a total of 19 foreign nationals for various offences. This was in a clean-up operation conducted in various parts of Lusaka, including Kabulonga, Mutendere, Ibex, Matero and Garden townships. Those apprehended were seven Burundians, five Congolese, three Rwandese, three Tanzanians and one Chinese. Screening of the apprehended is underway. Meanwhile, on Sunday, 13th May, 2018, Immigration in Luangwa apprehended six Somalis, five Ethiopians and two Zambians in a suspected case of human smuggling. The group was nabbed near Luangwa Bridge, enroute to South Africa via Zimbabwe. Immigration in Luangwa also arrested two Malawians and one Burundian for unlawful entry,” stated Nshinka.

“Meanwhile, elsewhere, between Friday, 11th May, 2018, and Sunday, 13th May, 2018, a total of eleven foreign nationals were arrested for various immigration offences countrywide. Those arrested were three Congolese in Chingola and three Tanzanians were arrested for unlawful entry. Others arrested for similar offences were one Namibian and one Burundian in Mpika, and one Congolese in Ndola. Those arrested for unlawful stay were two Egyptians in Lusaka and Kafue. In other developments, on Friday, 11th May, 2018, in Kapiri Mposhi, three Congolese were convicted for the offence of unlawful stay. Two were each sentenced to pay a fine of K8,000 or in default 2 months simple imprisonment, while one was sentenced to pay a fine of K3,000 or in default 2 months simple imprisonment.”