POLICE in Southern Province have intercepted a truck carrying more than 30 illegal immigrants who were heading to South Africa in a suspected case of human trafficking.
The Benz truck registration number YPN 871GP, was impounded in Choma on Sunday around 14:30 hours after the alert officers discovered that it was loaded with foreign nationals.
The illegal immigrants, who started their journey on September 26, 2015, in Somalia, were found crammed in a containerised goods truck and have since been arrested.
Southern Province Police Commissioner Godwin Phiri said that, one of the foreigners was found in a condition of extremely dehydrated and was rushed to Choma General Hospital for treatment.
Mr Phiri said in an interview yesterday that police arrested a total of 39 illegal immigrants.
He said, among the foreigners, 35 are Ethiopians, three are Somalians and one who was a Malawian national, was driving the truck.
“The 39 were intercepted and arrested in Choma and they are all in police custody,” Mr Phiri said.
Mr Phiri said police have since launched investigations and that the arrested foreigners are expected to appear in court soon.
The Choma incident comes barely a few months after police in Central Province intercepted a truck carrying more than 100 Ethiopians heading to South Africa in a suspected case of human trafficking.
The illegal immigrants were arrested aboard a containerised goods truck.
How did they get cleared at the border? You see, you harass innocent motorists and get paid huge amounts to turn a blind eye to this nonsense. I struggle to understand typical mindsets in this country. Mediocrity is king!
My question exactly! These people did not start their journey in Zambia. How on earth did they pass the border controls, let alone the check points along this Great North Road? Nadabwa maningi chabe!
I THOUGHT THESE WERE BEMBAS,TONGAS, CHEWAS,LOZIS MIXED WITH CHIPATA INDIANS WHO WANTED TO CROSS INTO ZIM FOR RIVIVAL SO ITS ALKA. VOLATILE STUFF HANDLE WITH CARE DO NO MIX WITH OTHERS THEY MAY EXPLO.IMMEDIATELY SEND THEM BACK.