THE Department of Immigration in Lusaka has arrested 19 suspected illegal immigrants in an operation conducted in Mtendere, Kalingalinga and Garden townships.
Immigration public relations officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement yesterday that the suspects were arrested in a clean-up operation on Wednesday.
Mr Nshinka said among those arrested is Omaru Hugo, 38, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said Mr Hugo was arrested at his residence in Garden Township after it was discovered that he has been illegally staying in Zambia since September 10 last year.
“Immigration officers also found in Mr Hugo’s possession large quantities of cannabis and obscene DVDs,” Mr Nshinka said.
He said Mr Hugo was handed over to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for further investigations.
Mr Nshinka also said eight other suspects from the DRC were arrested in the operation after they failed to produce valid documents.
He also said four Rwandans and a Burundian were picked up during the operation.
“Among the Rwandans, two were undocumented, one had an expired refugee card while the other one was using an invalid entry permit,” Mr Nshinka said.
He said the Burundian had an expired refugee card.
He also said the Department of Immigration has arrested a French woman of Rwandan origin for failing to observe the conditions set out in her employment permit.
Mr Nshinka said Kantamage Leonille , 63, a volunteer at Amizero International Development Foundation was apprehended in Mtendere after she was found selling liquor.
“Others arrested include four Tanzanians of which three had no documentation to stay in the country while one had overstayed in Zambia,” Mr Nshinka said.
{{Daily Mail Zambia}}
Leave a Reply