Dondo — One hundred and 35 foreigners living illegally in the northern Bengo province have been detained by the Migration and Foreigners Services (SME) in the region, from July 05 to August 04, ANGOP learnt.

The expatriates, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali and Senegal, were arrested as part SME's "travão" operation, in the referred period in Bengo province, according to the institution's provincial director, João Machado.

Coming from the provinces of Malanje and Zaire, a region where they practised various illegal activities, the foreigners were headed for the country's capital, Luanda, expecting to obtain a fixed residence.

From the total, 13 were already sent to the northern Zaire province, for repatriation to the DRC, their country of origin, while others will be handed over to the central sectors, in Luanda, for the same effect.

The "travão" operation, which ends next September 05, aims at curbing the presence of illegal foreigners in Bengo province, the source informed.

The action also aims at reinforcing the inspection capacity in the main border posts of the province.