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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Immigration Department has intercepted a Greek national who attempted to skip the country through Beitbridge border post.
Nikalaos Petousis who was arrested on Friday last week, was reportedly fleeing sentencing at Harare magistrate court where he was convicted for fraud invovling $50 000 on Monday last week.
He was on bail pending sentencing.
Petousis is said to have been driving a suspected stolen vehicle, a Jeep registration number ACY9787 belonging to Goudan Contractors of Harare.

The assistant regional immigration officer in charge of compliance Francis Mabika yesterday said that Nikalaos was found in possession of a Greek passport and a South African one.

“One passport was in the name of Nikolaos Petousis while the other was in the name of Nikolaos Papadopoulos,” he said.
He said the man was intercepted by immigration officers during an operation at Beitbridge border post.

“During the operation the officers were stopping all vehicles and enforcing compliance. They then came across Nikolaos who had a Greek passport which had no endorsement from the department of immigration.

“Under the immigration laws all foreigners should have their passports endorsed at our offices either for visiting or work purposes.
“It was established upon further enquiries that he had defaulted a court appearance at the Harare magistrate courts where a warrant of arrested had been issued against him,” he said.

Mabika said Nikolaos’ permit on the other passport was expiring on the day he was arrested.
Of late there has been an increase in immigrants from Pakistan, Ethiopia, DRC, and Somalia who enter the country illegally and try to skip the border to South Africa.

These are reportedly entering the country through, Harare International Airport, Nyamapanda, Chirundu and Forbes border posts with the assistance of human trafficking syndicates operating in both South Africa and Zimbabwe.

A fortnight ago the department of immigration intercepted 18 Pakistan nationals who were enroute to South Africa illegally.
It is understood that there is not much synchronisation of the movement control system at the country’s ports of entry which could help reduce irregular migration.