Two Nakonde District Health drivers nabbed for using ambulance to transport illegal immigrants
A Joint Team of Immigration and Police Officers in Nakonde has apprehended 16 Somalis in a suspected case of human trafficking/smuggling.
The Joint Operation ensued in the early hours of Sunday, 12th February, 2023 when four Somalis were picked by Immigration and Police Officers near Nakonde Hospital following a report from a concerned member of the public that he had sighted some foreign nationals who appeared stranded.
With the assistance of one of the four who could speak English, the team was led to a House in Ntindi Village where they found a Zambian female who denied them access to the house as she insisted that her father had the keys to the locked house and was not available.
At this point the Officers forced their way into the house where they discovered 12 more Somalis bringing the number apprehended thus far to 16.
Not long after the discovery of the 12, the Officers spotted an ambulance fitting the detailed description given by one of the Somalis.
A Zambian Driver of the ambulance was apprehended and in turn led the Officers to two other Zambians alleged to have been driving the Ambulance the previous night.
The 16 Somalis and the two Zambian Drivers who had the Ambulance the previous night have been detained and the Zambian female has also been taken into custody to assist with investigations.
Meanwhile, the Ambulance has been seized and is parked at Nakonde Police Station.
The Nakonde operation brings the number of persons apprehended for various immigration offences between 10th and 12th February, 2023 to 72.
Meanwhile, the Department of Immigration on 10th February, 2023 removed 35 Ethiopians after they paid court fines for the offence of illegal entry.
The removal of the Ethiopians brings the number of illegal immigrants of different nationalities removed by the Department between 10th and 12th February, 2023 to 52.
During this period, the Department also secured 28 convictions for various Immigration Offences.
Issued by
Mr Namati H. Nshinka
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER