Police arrest 21 individuals for issuing travel documents illegally

Addis Ababa, January 5, 2021 (FBC) –The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) said a total of 21 individuals have been arrested for issuing travel documents to applicants illegally.

Sixteen of the detained suspects are heads and employees of the Addis Ababa Bole Airport branch office of the Immigration Nationality and Vital Events Agency (INVEA).

The remaining five are individuals who operate under the pretext of legal employment agencies, according to a statement NISS sent to FBC yesterday.

They were arrested thorough a joint operation the Security Service had held with the crime investigation bureau of the Federal Police Commission, the statement noted.

The suspects form INVEA and employment agencies worked covertly to give passports to people who had failed to meet the legal procedure after receiving bribe.

Police also seized over 1 million birr and various bank books during a raid on homes of three employees of INVEA as well as seven passports from homes of three employment agencies suspected on human trafficking activity.

A total of 37 bank books and various materials used for illegal practices were also seized during the raid. Additional investigation is also underway, the statement said.