Government  has commended the security personnel in Mpika District for their vigilance and swift action in enforcing the law.

This comes after the Department of Immigration and a joint team of security personnel in Mpika nabbed 38 undocumented Ethiopians.

Confirming this today,  Mpika District Commissioner David Siame said the 38 prohibited  Immigrants were apprehended on 17th November 2024, after a tip off. 

Mr. Siame said the officers  at Mpika weigh bridge had stopped a Lusaka bound Volvo truck bearing registration number ALP 9152 ZM carrying timber which by-passed the weighbridge without weighing in.

The 38 Ethiopian nationals were then apprehended he said adding that as the driver of the truck fled it prompted the immigrants who were concealed in the trucks’ container to come out and flee.

Four more Ethiopian nationals were apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday 19th November bringing the total number of those in detention to 42.

“As District administration, we commend the officers for the job well done, this is how it should be,” Mr Siame said.

Mr Siame has also urged members of the public to report any suspicious individuals in the district owing to the fact that Mpika is a transit town.

And the 42 male Ethiopian nationals that have been detained in Mpika are aged between 14 and 35 years old.

This is contained in a press statement issued by Department of Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka.

Mr Nshinka disclosed that all 42 suspects are currently detained pending prosecution while the driver of the truck remains at large.