Somalia smugglers find new ways to evade detection

[Jacaylbaro]

By BONIFACE ONGERI

 

At a glance, the lorry at the Garissa Police Station junkyard would pass as one that transports used plastics for recycling.

 

A closer look, however, reveals more than meets the eye.

 

Inside, eight Somalia nationals lie waiting to be ferried to Nairobi.

 

Their journey was cut short after a traffic police officer became suspicious of the strange noise coming from the vehicle.

 

Apparently, the plastics had poked the ribs of one of the female passengers and in an effort to reposition herself, she gave the rest away.

 

This is just one of the ingenious but inhumane ways foreign nationals have to endure to be smuggled into Kenya.

 

Just recently, 10 Ethiopians stuffed in sacks with garlic were arrested as the lorry ferrying them was intercepted in Garissa Town.

 

Garissa OCPD Richard Bitonga said the lorry, which was also carrying 90 bags of garlic, was heading to Nairobi from Moyale. It had been given green light at the numerous roadblocks along the more than 800km stretch from Moyale to Garissa.

 

In a toolbox

 

Nine others were arrested between sacks of onions.

 

Mr Bitonga said so far, the most ingenious way the police have encountered was a Somali national wrapped like an Egyptian mummy and squeezed in a toolbox.

 

"Human smugglers are inventing new ways every day. We are concerned and alert," he said.

 

Bitonga said in the last one week alone, police have arrested 148 foreigners en route to Nairobi, majority of them from Somalia.

 

"Efforts to crack down on the cartel involved in the smuggling has not been successful because the foreigners remain tight lipped on those behind the illegal exercise," the OCPD said, adding any asylum seeker should go to Dadaab Refugee Camp to be registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

 

Bitonga further said the drivers and turn boys of the intercepted vehicles were also arrested and charged with collaborating in the illegality.