Four couples of Croatian origin have been intercepted by Police at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport for allegedly trafficking children of Congolese national.
Copperbelt Province Commanding officer Peacewell Mweeba said the couples have been identified as Damir magic 44 and his wife Nadica Magic aged 45 who purported that they adopted child Beatrice Magic aged 1 year, 3 months old of the Democratic Republic of congo.
Meanwhile another couple has been identified as Subosic Zoran 52, and wife Azra imamovic subosi 41 both of Croatia, with their purported adopted Mariella Kalinde- Imamovic Subosic aged 3 of Congo DR.
Another couple identified as Ladislav Persic 42, with his wife Aleksandr Persic 40, Croatian nationals, with their purported adopted child Kona Asnate- Persic aged 3 of Congo DR while Noah Kraljevic aged 45 and his wife Ivona Kraljevic aged 36, Croatian nationals, with their purported adopted child Jean Val- Kraljevic aged 3 of Congo DR were among the couples incepted.
Brief facts are that on Tuesday December 6 2022 around 20:00hrs, the office of the Divisional Criminal Investigations officer received information that there were three white people who had booked rooms at Spree guesthouse in Kansenshi.
Mr Mweeba disclosed that the four couples were seen with four young children of Congolese origin and immediately, the Regional Immigration Officer Steward Chiyaka was asked to send a team of Immigration Officers to accompany police officers to investigate the matter.
He said acting upon the tip, on Wednesday 7th December,2022 at around 12:00hrs, alert Immigration officers at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe managed to arrest the named couples.
Mr Mweeba indicated that Preliminary investigations show that documents for the adoption of the four children that are believed to have been issued by the Congolese authority are not genuine, hence the office of the Consular General of Congo DR was engaged through the office of the Regional Immigration officer.
He added that the position on the matter will soon be made public as investigations are still on.
Mr Mweeba said the four couples have been detained at Chifubu, Kansenshi, Central and Masala police stations, while the children have been taken to Social welfare facilities for care.