NAIROBI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police said Tuesday they are holding 22 Eritreans who were rescued on Monday evening while being smuggled through Nairobi.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects who were heading to South Africa from Moyale border town in northern Kenya were being ferried along the Thika superhighway in Nairobi.
"Twenty two victims of human trafficking-all Eritreans were today (Monday) rescued by DCI detectives as they were being ferried along Thika Road. All the suspects in lawful custody," said the police.
The detectives said the four Kenyans behind the smuggling syndicate were arrested and three vehicles in which they were travelling in were seized. The police said 17 of the victims aged between 15 years and 38 years are females.
The Kenyan authorities blamed the vastness of the northern region for the runaway influx of foreigners into Kenya through Moyale on Kenya-Ethiopia borders and the porous border with Somalia.
