Police nab 15 Ethiopian aliens

Police in Embu County have apprehended 15 aliens of Ethiopian origin in what is suspected to be a well-connected human trafficking syndicate that has been going on along the Embu – Nairobi Highway for some time now.

County Commissioner Amos Gathecha said the aliens were spotted by members of the public while hiding in a maize farm in Kithimu, Embu West District.

The county commissioner intimated that the aliens could not communicate either in English or Swahili, adding that suspicious wananchi tipped the police in a nearby police post who moved swiftly and arrested them.

He told the media that security agents had information that a human trafficking syndicate involving persons along the border with Ethiopia was in play since earlier this year a similar number of aliens were caught at Kiritiri in Mbeere Sub-County.

The county commissioner stated that trafficking is carried out using Probox passenger vehicles which have the capacity to ferry 12 passengers without being discovered.

He warned Probox drivers of dire consequences if they’re caught engaging in human trafficking.

However, he commended the Nyumba Kumi initiative for being on the forefront to report crime related cases to the security forces.

The 15, who were paraded in front of the media at Itabua Police Station, will be arraigned in court and charged with the offense of being in the country illegally once investigations are complete.