DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION
PRESS RELEASE
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
24th April, 2024
IMMIGRATION NABS 13 CHINESE, TWO VIETNAMESE, AND TWO ZAMBIAN DRIVERS IN NIGHT OPERATION
The Department of Immigration in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has apprehended 13 Chinese nationals (Ten females and three males), Two female Vietnamese, and two male Zambian Drivers. The suspects were apprehended in the late hours of Tuesday, 23rd April, 2024 during a raid on a named residential property in Lusaka’s Mass Media Area, following a tip-off from a concerned member of the public and weeks of investigations. The group was ambushed as it was about to drive out of the property in two white Toyota Alphard Vehicles Registration numbers BAT 6338 and CAA 2323, driven by two Zambian Drivers and a Black Toyota Mark X Registration number AIC 7129 which was being driven by a Chinese male Lai Aiping (36) who has since been linked to the internet fraud syndicate involving Golden Top Support Services.
At the time of the raid, one female and three male Chinese nationals had valid Employment Permits under different companies while four female Chinese nationals had been in the country legally as ordinary visitors. It was also established that the two Vietnamese and one Chinese female had no legal immigration status while the other four female Chinese nationals were undocumented.
During the operation, cash amounting to Two Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety-Five Kwacha (K 248,195) and One Thousand One Hundred and Five United States Dollars (USD 1,105) was found at the property and has been seized by the Drug Enforcement Commission. Further, the Black Toyota Mark X along with 98 Airtel SIM cards which were found inside the vehicle have also been seized. Furthermore, the team also found stacks of condoms and unknown drugs inside the property. The condoms have been confiscated by the Department of Immigration while the drugs are in the custody of the Drug Enforcement Commission for tests. In addition, the two Toyota Alphard Vehicles have been impounded.
Meanwhile, all suspects are detained pending further investigations. Investigations into the matter are ongoing and so far, seem to suggest that the suspects could be involved in commercial sex activities with some named Casinos.
We wish to warn foreign nationals who deliberately enter the country under false pretences that they will be arrested, prosecuted, and deported from the country. These arrests and seizures have yet again highlighted the importance of collaboration by law enforcement agencies in fighting crime. The Department of Immigration will continue to work closely with other law enforcement agencies to rid the country of foreigners who choose to abrogate their permission to stay in the country by engaging in illegal activities.
Namati H. Nshinka (Mr)
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
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