Angola Border Guard Police: Operation Arrasto 26 Arrests 554

• Angola's Border Guard Police conducted Operation 'Arrasto 26' in Luvo, Zaire Province, arresting 554 individuals over a four-day period.
• Among those detained were 500 DRC nationals in an irregular migration situation and 54 Angolan citizens accused of various crimes.
• The operation recorded 166 offenses, predominantly border violations, alongside tax evasion, environmental offenses, and illicit petroleum product export.
• Authorities seized 23 motorbikes used for clandestine transport, along with washing machines, kitchenware, and other goods.
• Detained immigrants were referred to the Migration and Foreigners Service, while Angolan nationals faced competent authorities, and seized goods went to the General Tax Administration.

This sustained Angola Operation Arrasto 26 arrests and broader Zaire Province border control efforts signal a heightened vigilance by Angolan authorities.

Angolan authorities recently concluded a significant enforcement action, dubbed Operation 'Arrasto 26', resulting in the apprehension of 554 individuals in the border municipality of Luvo, located in Angola's Zaire Province. The operation, conducted by the Border Guard Police over a four-day period from the 21st to the 24th of this month, targeted both foreign nationals and Angolan citizens involved in various illicit activities.

Deputy Commissioner Agostinho Muanzunga, who commands the 3rd Border Guard Police Unit in Mbanza Kongo, provided details of the crackdown. A substantial majority of those detained, specifically 500 individuals, were identified as Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) nationals found to be in an irregular migration situation within Angola. Additionally, 54 Angolan citizens were taken into custody on suspicion of committing diverse crimes.

This Angola Border Guard Police crackdown underscores a concerted effort to enhance Zaire Province border control and curb illegal activities. The municipality of Luvo, situated approximately 60 kilometers north of Mbanza Kongo, the provincial capital, serves as a critical point for cross-border movements, making it a focal point for such intensified enforcement actions against Luvo border illegal migration.

Beyond the numerous arrests, Operation 'Arrasto 26' documented a wide array of offenses and led to considerable seizures of illicit goods. During the enforcement period, the Border Guard Police in Luvo recorded a total of 166 distinct infractions. The overwhelming majority, 152 incidents, were classified as border violations, highlighting the primary focus on unauthorized crossings and related activities.

Further investigations revealed other forms of illegal conduct, including nine cases of tax evasion, two environmental offenses, and one instance related to the illicit export of petroleum products. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 23 motorbikes, which were reportedly being utilized to transport both merchandise and individuals along clandestine routes into the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Authorities also seized a variety of other items, indicating the breadth of illicit trade and movement. These included five washing machines, substantial quantities of kitchen utensils, orthopedic mattresses, four bags of flip-flops, machetes, hoes, and 45 trunks. These seizures reflect the multifaceted nature of the border crimes being addressed by the Angolan Border Guard Police.

Following their apprehension, the individuals detained during Operation 'Arrasto 26' were processed according to established legal and administrative protocols. The 500 DRC nationals involved in irregular migration in Angola were transferred to the regional Migration and Foreigners Service (SME) for the necessary procedural steps. Meanwhile, the Angolan nationals implicated in activities such as fuel smuggling were handed over to the appropriate competent authorities for further legal action.

Deputy Commissioner Muanzunga affirmed that operations of this nature are not isolated incidents but represent an ongoing commitment. He stated that similar actions would persist along the Luvo border, specifically targeting the Central Congo region of the DRC, with the explicit aim of deterring illegal immigration and other cross-border illicit activities. The seized merchandise was deposited with the General Tax Administration (AGT) in the village of Luvo for proper handling and disposition.

This sustained Angola Operation Arrasto 26 arrests and broader Zaire Province border control efforts signal a heightened vigilance by Angolan authorities. The comprehensive nature of the crackdown, addressing everything from illegal migration to tax evasion and environmental crimes, underscores a robust approach to securing the nation's borders and regulating cross-border movements.

Lawyers advising clients with cross-border operations or foreign national employees in Angola, especially near the DRC border, should note the intensified enforcement against illegal immigration and border crimes. This signals increased risk for non-compliant activities and necessitates a review of immigration, customs, and tax compliance protocols to avoid arrests and seizures.

Source: Original reporting via ANGOP