Three Ethiopians die as Human Smuggling Operation Takes Grim Turn in Meru

The perilous underworld of human smuggling claimed three lives and left eight others critically injured in a tragic accident that unfolded in Meru on Wednesday night. The victims, all hailing from Ethiopia, were being transported in two salon cars when the incident occurred.

According to local authorities, the smugglers were operating a Probox car, attempting to ferry 10 Ethiopians towards Nkubu town.
The collision, which took place in an area flagged as a known smuggling route, involved a head-on collision with another vehicle. As a result, three individuals lost their lives, and eight others sustained severe injuries. The injured were promptly rushed to Kanyakine and St Ann’s Hospital for urgent medical attention.
In a related incident in Garbatulla, Isiolo, law enforcement intercepted a group of eight Ethiopians who were being transported to Nairobi. Riding on motorcycles and escorted by armed men, the individuals were apprehended on Tuesday evening.
A dramatic shootout ensued, leading to the escape of seven of the smuggled individuals, while eight were successfully detained. The situation reflects the increasing audacity of smuggling operations in the region.
Law enforcement officials have highlighted that these incidents are part of a larger organized crime network operating in the region. Security chiefs emphasized recent strides made in January in the fight against various forms of organized crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, poaching, rape, murder, and robbery with violence.