Immigration cracks down on illegal migrants in Northern Province

The Department of Immigration has intensified enforcement operations in Northern Province, leading to the conviction of 25 prohibited immigrants and the apprehension of several others, including a Burundian national found with suspected fraudulent identity documents.

According to Chief Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka, the Kasama Magistrate Court on April 23, 2026 convicted 25 foreign nationals who were apprehended on February 27 for illegal entry into Zambia.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Nshinka said the group comprised Ethiopian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals who were intercepted following an intelligence-led operation conducted jointly with the Zambia Police.

“The suspects were discovered after a bus transporting them allegedly abandoned passengers in a bush area. The court fined the individuals amounts ranging from K500 to K3,000, with a default sentence of six months simple imprisonment,” he said.

They are currently detained at Milima Correctional Facility awaiting payment of fines and subsequent removal from the country.

In a separate operation in Nakonde District, Nshinka said immigration officers apprehended 19 Ethiopian nationals in Kaimbo Village under Chief Waitwika.

Of these, 13 have been charged with illegal entry, while five face charges for failing to report to an Immigration Officer upon entry into the country.

Authorities also impounded a Tanzanian-registered motor vehicle, registration number T314 DDY, believed to have been used to transport the group from Tanzania into Zambia.

The driver reportedly fled the scene after abandoning the vehicle when officers attempted to intercept him.

Meanwhile, in Kasama, officers apprehended a 34-year-old Burundian national identified as Ndyaizamba Alexis during a routine inspection aboard a train at Chambeshi Railway Station.

He was found with an expired Emergency Travel Document, making his stay in the country unlawful.

Further investigations revealed that the suspect was allegedly using a National Registration Card under the name Alex Banda.

However, verification by the National Registration, Passport and Citizenship Office confirmed that the NRC number did not exist in official records.

The suspect is currently detained at Milima Correctional Facility pending prosecution, while investigations have been launched to identify individuals who may have facilitated the acquisition of the suspected fraudulent document.

Nshinka warned that individuals found aiding illegal entry, harbouring prohibited immigrants, or engaging in the production and use of fraudulent identity documents risk facing the full force of the law.

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