A suspected ring leader in the illegal immigrant transportation network from the Horn of Africa to various destinations via Tanzania, a Burundian national, has been nabbed while in process to facilitate a similar arrangement.
Speaking on Friday, Kilimanjaro Region Immigration Chief, Mr Johannes Msunie named the person as Abdulkadir Ndaishiniye (33), a resident of Kayanza region in Burundi.
The regional Immigration boss said Ndaishiniye was arrested at Tanzania-Kenya border of Tarakea when trying to get a permit to travel to Dar es Salaam.
Mr Msunie said that investigations are going on and that it has been established so far that the culprit had much communication with other suspects who have also been arrested.
Among the suspects in the ring includes Ms Leokadia Tarimo (54) who runs Limpala Guest House in Tarakea that used to house the illegal immigrants.
The Immigration Chief said that the Government has decided to close the guest house and will be under its monitoring and investigation.
In the network also is Ndiwayesu Paulo (30) who together with Ms Tarimo had been communicating frequently with Ndaishiniye by mobile phone, allegedly on illegal immigrants’ matters.
The Immigration also has smoked out five Ethiopians who were illegally in the country. Ndaishiniye and fellow leaders of the network will be arraigned in court once investigation is complete.
This comes barely 10 days after police in Kilimanjaro arrested 56 other illegal immigrants who were on transit in Same District.
They are suspected to be from Ethiopia and were nabbed hidden in a ‘Fuso’ lorry in Jiungeni village, Ruvu ward following a tip-off to the police.
Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Robert Boaz had said earlier that his force in the region established a task force which includes regional and district Immigration officers and other security officers to curb the problem.
By DEUS NGOWI, Tanzania Daily News
