18 Ethiopians arrested by Malawi immigration for illegal entry

18 Ethiopians have arrested on Monday by the Malawian immigration authorities in the north for entering the country illegally. This comes barely a month after over 40 Ethiopians were found dead in a forest in Mzimba.

The 18 Ethiopia immigrants were arrested at Phwezi Immigration roadblock in Rumphi whilst hiding inside a truck van bearing registration number CA 8429 whose driver was 40 year old, Perrie Chintika holder of Malawian passport number MWA029882 from Kasungu district and was driving a truck belonging to Almeida Transport Company.

Malawian immigration officers claimed they have since arrested a Malawian who was driving a vehicle which was used to ferry the suspected immigrants.
The officers accounted that when the truck was thoroughly checked, it was discovered that the migrants were in a van of the truck and had carried soap and toilet papers with Malawi Revenue Authority Seal.

According to the police, the 18 arrested immigrants are to answer the offence of illegal entry contrary to section 21(1) of the Malawi Immigration Act.
The driver, the police say, is to answer the offence of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants into Malawi contrary to section 36 of the Malawi Immigration Act. Currently the 18 Ethiopians and the driver are being kept at Rumphi prison awaiting legal action.