Minister appalled by illegal routes along border
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Smugglers and illegal immigrants cross the border easily, Home Affairs minister Mwigulu Nchemba said after visiting Rongai, Tarakea and Holili border posts.
Moshi. Kilimanjaro and Tanga are notorious for illegal routes along the Tanzania-Kenya border.
Smugglers and illegal immigrants cross the border easily, Home Affairs minister Mwigulu Nchemba said after visiting Rongai, Tarakea and Holili border posts.
He said he was appalled that residents of those areas condoned the malpractice and warned that the government would not tolerate illegal immigrants and those who assist them to cross the border.
He said goods smuggled into Tanzania were often cheap or fake and no taxes were paid.
All kinds of merchandise, mainly from Kenya, have also found way into Tanzania through such ‘panya’ routes while gemstones and other natural resources from the country have been smuggled out.
Mr Nchemba said Tanzania and other East African member states were keen on improving operations of the border posts.
He called on Immigration officers to observe work ethics and to resist being bribes from middle men involved in human trafficking.
