Police intercept 32 illegal immigrants at Kocholia Roadblock

Teso,

Friday, September 8, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

Police in Busia have arrested 32 immigrants on their way to Kitale from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Confirming the incident, Teso North OCPD Joseph Matiku noted that police while on patrol intercepted a matatu en route to Kitale from Malaba and managed to nab the Congolese who lacked the relevant documentation.

The immigrants, the majority of them children, were intercepted at Buteko area along the Malaba- Kanduyi highway after police were tipped by members of the public of a suspicious matatu en route to Kitale.

“Wednesday night our officers while on daily patrol tried to stop a matatu for inspection before the driver took off leaving the 25 passengers inside of which 16 were children and 9 adults. Yesterday, we arrested 7 more adults,” said Joseph Matiku the Sub-County Police Commander Teso North.

The driver who had escaped the trap was later arrested in Bungoma and arraigned in Busia law court alongside the 32 immigrants for human trafficking.

Matiku has issued a firm warning to all drivers operating along the Malaba Eldoret highway that all vehicles coming from the border would be scanned thoroughly by the police at the designated police checks to manage cases of smuggling and human trafficking.

“Our officers will be on patrol 24/7 scanning all vehicles along the border due to cases of human trafficking and smuggling that are rampant in the border town,” he added.

The sentiment was echoed by Teso North DCC Stephen Omondi Mwambura who noted that it won’t be business as usual for human traffickers and drug peddlers.

“If you must be in Kenya, use the right procedure. Pass through the immigration office. No more excuses as a result of the porosity of our border,” noted DCC Mwambura.

Courtesy; KNA