81 illegal immigrants cornered in Karonga
The Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has intercepted 81 illegal immigrants at Chilumba checkpoint in Karonga District.
In an interview on Thursday, Karonga Police Station spokesperson George Mulewa said the truck that carried the foreigners was coming from the direction of Karonga heading towards Mzuzu.
He said upon arrival at Chilumba, MDF soldiers, who were manning the check-point, intercepted the truck.
“It is true that we have in our custody 81 foreigners who are suspected of entering the country illegally,” said Mulewa.
Asked how the truck passed through police checkpoints and one immigration checkpoint without being intercepted, he said that is why there is a cordial relationship between the police and other stakeholders such as the MDF.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services officers from Chitipa and Karonga, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cited shortage of human and financial resources to patrol porous borders.
In a separate interview, Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza said government is doing all it can to end illegal entry.
“To end the influx of illegal immigrants, we have to intensify patrols. But the solution is to engage neighbouring countries on how best to deal with illegal migration,” she said.
