POLICE in Lusaka have cut shot an illegal career of two young men, who were impersonating immigration officers and demanding money from foreign nationals running shops in compounds.
After running their illegal career smoothly for a while, the duo of Timothy Kampamba, 26, of Soweto B in Kapiri-Mposhi District and Abraham Mulenga aged 30 of Lilanda compound in Lusaka, met a sudden hurdle to their hustle.
As per customer, the two partners in crime, who even hired a Lusaka tailor to design a full Immigration uniform for them, woke up in the morning with one donning the law enforcement uniform while the other dressed like an FBI agent in a smart suit.
They embarked on a hustle in Barlastone area without knowing that not all days are Sundays..
At 09:00 hours, they reached a grocery store belonging to a foreign national, presented themselves as immigration officers, and then ordered the businessman to give them an undisclosed amount of money if they were to leave him.
Unfortunately, their customer of the day gave them a hard chase for their money as he refused to easily give in, leaving the short tempered fake officers with no other option than to arrest and detain him at Lilanda compound Police Post.
Unknown to them, they were reporting themselves to police instead, as they led themselves into the lion’s den.
Upon reaching the police post the criminal masterminds were interrogated officers and their lip started quivering like a child exposed to the cold
And their inconsistencies in coordination and answering gave them away as the police noticed something fishy.
It was later discovered that they were not employed by the Department of Immigration, but merely unemployed crooked citizens.
Police deputy public relations officer, Danny Mwale who confirmed the incident said further investigation revealed that the two even threatened to arrest another salesman near Eden University in the same area.
“Officers from the Department of Immigration were informed and confirmed that the suspects were not employees of the Department of Immigration. They have been detained in Police custody yet to be formally charged,” said Mwale.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba May 7, 2024
