Mbanza Kongo – Seven citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who intended to reach the Angolan capital, Luanda, illegally, were arrested Saturday morning by the National Police, in the municipality of Nzeto, Zaire province.
The group, coming from the municipality of Mbanza Kongo aboard two light vehicles, was being escorted by four national citizens, also detained, who charged 250,000 kwanzas each to the town of Nzeto.
According to a note from the Zaire Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of the Interior, to which ANGOP had access, the amount charged by guides would increase to 500 thousand kwanzas for each immigrant if they managed to reach the city of Luanda.
The document indicates that the detention of these DRC citizens had the collaboration of the population and took place close to the checkpoint on the Loge River, bordering the provinces of Zaire and Bengo.
“Before arriving at the police station, the supposed guides decided to unload the passengers who were on board the two vehicles in one of the surrounding forests, an act that was seen by some members of the public who immediately reported it to the authorities”, the note also reads.
The report also states that the seven foreigners were handed over to the Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) for their repatriation in the coming days, while the four nationals, accused of promoting and assisting illegal immigration, are being arrested.
The municipality of Nzeto is 230 kilometers from the city of Mbanza Kongo, capital of the province of Zaire. JL/DOJ
