The Police also apprehended a Malawian man; James Gondwe aged 21, from Mwafulwa village, Traditional Authority Mwansambo in Karonga district, believed to have aided the foreigners who were found in Mzimba to enter the country illegally.

According to Northern Region Police Deputy Spokesperson Paul Tembo, 138 illegal immigrants were netted on March 26, 2014 at Chandalala Village in Kafukule area in Mzimba district.

Tembo said police received a tip from well-wishers about the presence of the strangers who were then hiding in a maize field.

He said when police rushed to the scene they found 138 Ethiopian nationals and immediately arrested all of them for illegally entry.

The suspect (Gondwe) is believed to have been facilitating the entry of the Ethiopian nationals into country and is answering to the charge of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants against section 12 of the Immigration Act.

The other 21 were arrested in Mzuzu after they were dumped at Kadikechi village after a motor vehicle they were being transported in developed a mechanical fault.

Police are however yet to arrest any suspects who aided those arrested in the Mzuzu but the Ethiopians will appear before court soon.

Source: Nyasa Times