Lunda Norte: At least 719 citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were repatriated to their country of origin by authorities in eastern Lunda Norte province for illegal entry and stay in Angolan territory, ANGOP learned on Monday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the local spokesperson of the National Police, Domingos Muanafumo, stated that the immigrants were detained during a micro-operation aimed at combating illegal immigration, fuel smuggling, human trafficking, illegal mining, and the illicit trade in diamonds, among other crimes.
Domingos Muanafumo reported that a total of 136 attempts to cross the border were recorded. This resulted in the arrest of 719 DRC citizens last week who intended to settle in mining areas and reach the country's capital, Luanda.
Of the 719 immigrants, 77 were minors, and they were repatriated through the border posts of Luremo, Cuilo, Caungula, Camaxilo, L³vua, Chitato, Cambulo, and Canzar.
Lunda Norte shares a border with the DRC that is approximately 770 kilometers long, 600 km of which is land and 170 km is river.
