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THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has intercepted seven suspected illegal immigrants of Somali origin who were concealed in a transit vehicle bound for Zimbabwe.

Officers stopped a Toyota Probox during a routine enforcement exercise en route to the Chirundu One Stop Border Post. A search revealed the seven individuals hidden beneath bags of rice and other goods in the rear cargo compartment.

The Zambian driver and the seven people were handed over to the Department of Immigration for profiling and processing under the Immigration and Deportation Act.

In a separate incident, the authority impounded a vehicle that was illegally imported after its temporary import permit expired. The vehicle entered Zambia through the Kasumbalesa Border Post in December 2025 and remained in the country beyond the permit validity, in violation of customs regulations.

ZRA said importers must comply with customs laws, and violations could result in enforcement action, including seizure.

The authority said the operations highlight its mandate of protecting Zambia’s borders and safeguarding national revenue.

(Mwebantu, Wesnesday, 22nd July, 2026)