Uige — At least 74 citizens from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were repatriated Saturday across the border posts of Kimbata and Beu Fiscal, municipality of Maquela do Zombo, Angola's northern Uige province, after the authorities found they were in irregular migratory condition.

According to Maquela do Zombo commander of the National Police, Carlos Mario dos Santos, the authorities are since January this year busy in an operation that has led to the detention of the above mentioned foreigners. Of the total, 40 were repatriated across the

Kimbata post and 34 through Beu Fiscal.

The police commander said 24 were women, ten of whom who came from Uige city, while the others were detained from near Maquela do Zombo, some 310 kilometres of the provincial capital city.

The local chief of the Migration and Foreign Service (SME), Garcia Bunga, said three accomplices who deal in facilitating the illegal entry of foreigners in exchange for money were also detained.

According to the source, the operation led to the detention of five west African (Malian) citizens found in illegal migratory situation. They will be also repatriated.