Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and the Malawi Police Service (MPS) have launched joint patrol operations on Lake Malawi on Friday in Nkhata Bay District, to curb illegal immigration in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Immigration Department, is aimed at patrolling porous lake borders with Tanzania and Mozambique. MDF Lieutenant Colonel Kelvin Soko revealed that the operation will be using the warships of the MDF marine department. “Once we have come across a vessel we will be intercepting it and necessary security procedures will be carried out. When we come across immigrants, that will be the job of the Immigration Department to check if they have proper documents. If there is a need for an arrest then the police come in,” he said.

The water patrols have followed after almost 100 people were detained for coming into the country using uncharted routes at Songwe border in Karonga District.