Police have smashed another human trafficking syndicate and arrested 110 illegal immigrants from Ethiopia.
The foreigners, who were on their way to Tanzania, were being driven from Nairobi when their lorry was intercepted in Vigurugani area by Administration Police officers as they entered Kinango from where they would leave Kenya through the Lunga Lunga border.
Kinango DC Apollo Okello said the men, aged between 15 and 30, were on their way to South Africa where they are lured by prospects of better jobs.
“A concerned citizen alerted the authorities after he noticed their lorry diverting from the main Mombasa-Nairobi highway into Samburu.
When I sent officers to establish what was in the lorry, they came across these people,” he said.
Last week, police in Kwale seized 107 immigrants who were en route to South Africa, bringing the number seized in Coast province to more than 400 in just one month.
Mr Okello said the Ethiopians, who did not have any papers, would be charged with illegally entering the country.
“The Kenyan coast has been identified as a notorious transit point for traffickers, but we intend to remain vigilant to end this human trafficking business,” he said.
In October, the government introduced new legislation in a bid to crack down on human traffickers and offer protection to victims. The law slaps a 30-year jail term or a fine of Sh30 million on those convicted of human trafficking.
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