Police in Shiwang’andu District have detained 15 illegal immigrants who were traveling in a truck and trailer with a Tanzanian registration that was hauling sulfur.
The 15 suspects, who are all male and range in age from 17 to 28, are said to be Somali and Ethiopian.
In a statement, police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed.
According to Mr. Mwale, on February 19, 2023, at around 10:30 a.m., police officers on patrol in Chinsali, Muchinga Province along the Great North Road stopped the truck and trailer, which had the registration numbers T636 DVR and T565 DVP, respectively.
“As Police officers were driving past the truck which was heading towards Mpika District, they noticed a person peeping under a tent and this prompted officers to stop it and immediately conducted a search and 15 people believed to be illegal immigrants were retrieved from the truck and trailer carrying Sulphur,” he said.
Mr Mwale said police also detained the driver of the truck identified as Muhammad Juma Lango aged 37 and his co-driver identified as Shabani Issa aged 30 all of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania.
He said the truck has been impounded as well.
“The Department of Immigration in Chinsali has since been notified,” Mr Mwale said.
