The Department between 20th and 23rd August, 2018 arrested thirty-seven people for various immigration offences countrywide, including a Zambian arrested on Thursday, 23rd August, 2018 in Lusaka for forgery.

Keener Njobvu (43), believed to be a resident of Kabwata, was apprehended in Kabwata with the help of the Police.

This was after seven forged Employment Permit Approval letters were traced back to him.

Earlier on, a Chinese national was intercepted at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport when he presented a forged Employment Permit Approval letter and investigations would later reveal that the approval letter, along with six others, had been forged by Keener Njobvu.

The suspect is currently in detained pending prosecution.

Meanwhile, two Congolese in Nchelenge, one Bangladeshi in Lusaka, one Tanzanian and one Congolese in Kasama and one Chinese in Kitwe, were arrested for unlawful stay.

Immigration Department Spokesperson Namati Nshinka says other were one South African in Chirundu, one Ugandan in Kabwe, one Malawian in Chadiza, one Tanzanian in Mporokoso, and one Congolese in Kashiba.

Mr. Nshinka says those arrested for unlawful entry were three Congolese and one Zimbabwean in Kapiri Mposhi, three Burundese in Kasama and two Zimbabweans at Victoria Falls Border Control.

He says others were two Burundese in Lusaka and Nakonde, one Malawian in Luangwa and one Congolese in Chingola.

He adds that during this period, the Department also secured the conviction of sixteen people for various offences.

Mr. Nshinka states that the convicts received fines of between K260 and K4,000 or in default between 1 and 6 months imprisonment.

“The Department between 20th and 23rd August, 2018 also refused entry to eight (08) foreign nationals for not meeting entry requirements and removed five (05) illegal immigrants from the country”, Mr. Nshinka has disclosed.

He has since warned would be offenders that Immigration Officers are highly trained and employ modern technology to identify false documents and prevent the issuance of permits and visas to undeserving persons.