Source: Africa Publicity
Zambia’s Department of Immigration, in the early hours of Sunday, January 25, 2026, uncovered migrant smuggling networks using an ambulance and private vehicles after intercepting and detaining over 90 Ethiopian nationals for immigration-related offences in coordinated operations conducted in Nyimba, Siavonga and Mpika Districts.
A statement issued by the Department of Immigration and signed by its Chief Public Relations Officer,
Namati H. Nshinka, revealed that in Nyimba District, Immigration Officers detained 30 male Ethiopian nationals for failure to appear before the nearest Immigration Officers upon entry and two Zambians for aiding and abetting them.
According to the statement, the Ethiopians were handed over to the Nyimba Immigration Office by the Police who had intercepted a Lusaka-bound ambulance belonging to Altaf Memorial Hospital at Kacholola Checkpoint following an alert by the Nyimba Immigration Office.
It says the ambulance, which approached the checkpoint with sirens fully engaged in an apparent attempt to secure unhindered passage, was stopped and searched.
Officers discovered 30 male Ethiopian nationals aged between 16 and 25 concealed inside the vehicle. Further, two Zambian nationals, identified as Boyd Phiri (38), a driver at Altaf Memorial Hospital, and Chikema Samukenge (45), a Logistics Officer at the same institution, were apprehended for aiding and abetting the illegal entry and stay of the immigrants.
Preliminary investigations revealed that only three of the Ethiopian nationals were in possession of passports, though without any immigration endorsements, while the remaining individuals were undocumented.
Investigations further indicate that the group was picked up from Katete. All suspects are currently detained in Nyimba pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
In a separate operation conducted the same morning, a joint team of Immigration and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Officers apprehended forty-eight (48) Ethiopian nationals near the Game Primary School area in Siavonga District. The group was intercepted while being transported in two Toyota Hiace vehicles, registration numbers CAG 7241 and BBD 3862.
Upon interception, the drivers, believed to be Zambian nationals, fled the scene, abandoning both vehicles and their occupants. In one instance, the driver jumped out before the vehicle came to a complete stop, causing it to hit into a tree. Of the forty-eight individuals apprehended, twenty-eight were in possession of passports without immigration endorsements, while the remainder were undocumented. All are currently detained at Siavonga Police Station pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
In Mpika District, a joint team of Immigration and Police Officers conducted an operation following a tip-off that vehicles suspected to be transporting prohibited immigrants were using an illegal route along the TAZAMA Pipeline near Kaole Village in the Lubambala area. During the operation, two Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles were intercepted after their drivers fled into nearby bush, abandoning a total of twenty (20) undocumented Ethiopian nationals. The immigrants are detained at Mpika Police Station while the two vehicles have been impounded.
The Department of Immigration commends members of the public for their continued cooperation and vigilance, and reiterates its commitment to safeguarding Zambia’s borders and upholding the Immigration and Deportation Act.
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