Authorities in Lusaka have put an end to the illegal activities of two young men who were impersonating immigration officers and extorting money from foreign nationals operating shops in residential areas.
After successfully carrying out their illegal activities for a period of time, Timothy Kampamba, 26, from Soweto B in Kapiri-Mposhi District, and Abraham Mulenga, 30, from Lilanda compound in Lusaka, encountered a sudden setback in their scheme.
According to reports, the duo, who had gone to the extent of commissioning a local tailor in Lusaka to craft full Immigration uniforms for them, executed their plan by dressing up in law enforcement attire, with one wearing the Immigration uniform and the other posing as an FBI agent in a sharp suit.
Their operation took a turn when they targeted a grocery store owned by a foreign national in the Barlastone area around 09:00 hours. Posing as immigration officers, they demanded an undisclosed sum of money from the shop owner in exchange for not taking action against him.
However, their intended victim refused to comply, leading to a confrontation that resulted in the fake officers attempting to arrest and detain him at the Lilanda compound Police Post.
Unbeknownst to them, they were essentially handing themselves over to the authorities. During interrogation at the police post, their nervous demeanor and inconsistent responses aroused suspicion among the officers, eventually leading to their unraveling.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the two culprits were not employed by the Department of Immigration but were unemployed individuals resorting to illicit means for financial gain.
Danny Mwale, the deputy public relations officer for the police, confirmed the incident, adding that further inquiries disclosed that the suspects had also threatened to arrest another shopkeeper near Eden University in the same vicinity.
“The Department of Immigration has confirmed that the suspects were not affiliated with their department. They have been placed in police custody pending formal charges,” stated Mwale.
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