Immigration Apprehends 153 People in Ndola and Kitwe Operations

Zambia’s Department of Immigration has apprehended 153 people during separate enforcement operations in Ndola and Kitwe, with some released after preliminary screening while others remain subject to immigration status checks.

The operations were conducted on Tuesday, October 13, in several townships across the two Copperbelt cities, according to Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka.

In Ndola, 86 people of various nationalities were apprehended. Preliminary screening found that 29 had valid immigration permits, while the status of the others was still being verified.

Two Somali nationals were also handed over to the Drug Enforcement Commission after they were allegedly found in possession of miraa.

In Kitwe, 67 people were apprehended. Immigration officers established that 37 had valid immigration documents, five had expired documents and 24 failed to produce immigration documents. One Tanzanian national could not be traced in the immigration system.

The five people with expired documents comprised four Congolese nationals and one Vietnamese national. Those who failed to produce documents included 16 Congolese and eight Tanzanians.

The Department said it would continue routine and intelligence-led enforcement operations in collaboration with other security agencies, adding that all those encountered would be treated in accordance with the law.

The statement did not indicate how many of the 153 people remained in custody following the screening process.