Zambia's Department of Immigration apprehended 25 suspected illegal immigrants in two separate operations last week.

On Friday 14 Ethiopian nationals were apprehended in a suspected smuggling case at a village, while one individual remains unaccounted for.

The operation followed a tip-off from a whistleblower within the village who reported a suspicious white Toyota Hilux that got stuck in the mud while diverting into the bush to bypass a security checkpoint. 

The authorities responded to the call, and a chase ensued, forcing the driver of the suspected vehicle to eventually abandon it, and all occupants fled into the bush.

Meanwhile, at a point shared by Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, eleven male Somalian nationals aged between 15 and 35 years were apprehended while attempting to leave Zambia illegally.

Two unidentified Zambian nationals believed to have been aiding the group managed to evade arrest by fleeing into the nearby bush. 

Efforts to locate and apprehend them are ongoing.

The apprehended Ethiopian and Somalian nationals are currently in custody pending further immigration formalities.

The Department of Immigration's Acting Chief Public Relations Officer Mwila Sumbukeni said the department remains committed to safeguarding the region's borders and combating illegal migration.

Sumbukeni appealed to the public to continue providing information on suspicious activities in their communities, noting that such cooperation is vital in combating human smuggling, trafficking and related transnational crimes.