80 illegal immigrants arrested in Dar crackdown

Dar es Salaam.  Immigration officers arrested at least 80 foreigners from different countries until yesterday allegedly for illegally living and working in the country.

A special crackdown on illegal immigrants was conducted  at Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam where illegal immigrants were not only found  living in the country without valid permits, but they were also engaging in work that could be done by locals.

The Dar es Salaam regional immigration officer, Mr John Msumule, told a news conference yesterday that the exercise had started at the beginning of the week.

Mr Msumule said after interrogations, the immigrants would be sent to court where they would be charged with entering the country without permits.

He said among the immigrants, 25 were Chinese, five Congolese, three Ghanaians, three Nigerians, three Somalis, and one from Ivory Coast.

He added that two Tanzanians were also arrested for engaging in human trafficking. 

“We arrested them while they were in process of transporting six girls to the Middle East countries.

“I advise foreigners arriving in the country for the purpose of work or business to seek valid permits from the Ministry of Labour beforehand, lest they are arrested,” he said.  

Mr Msumule said the crackdown, which would be conducted throughout the Dar es Salaam Region, would reach out industries where it was believed there were many illegal immigrants doing work that could be done by locals.

To ensure the operation succeeded, he said the department had increased the number of personnel.