At least 231 foreign nationals have been arrested by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) in a series of intelligence-led operations conducted in Kampala and Adjumani district this week. According to the ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Simon Peter Mundeyi, the coordinated enforcement targeted individuals suspected of residing in Uganda illegally and engaging in unlawful activities. In Kampala, 169 foreign nationals were arrested during an overnight operation from April 27 into the morning of April 28 at a residential property in Bukoto along Bukoto–Ntinda road. Authorities said the premises had been converted into a restricted, self-contained facility with limited movement for occupants. Mundeyi said the building had effectively been turned into a dormitory, with one section operating as an office equipped with computers and communication devices suspected to have been used in online scams, as well as gaming and betting activities. Preliminary findings also suggest the involvement of Ugandan accomplices who allegedly helped identify and lure victims. According to officials, victims were contacted and persuaded to speak with individuals posing as foreign employers offering lucrative job opportunities abroad, only to be defrauded. “We received a tip-off that these people were engaging in illegal activities without proper documentation allowing them to work here,” Mundeyi said. “We found them with computers and other equipment. Their work involves scamming desperate Ugandans seeking jobs.” He added that many of the suspects did not possess identification documents such as passports, while some claimed their documents had been confiscated by their employers, who are currently on the run. “Under the Immigration Act, all foreigners must carry their documents at all times. We will process and screen them to verify how many possess passports, valid visas, or work permits. That is our next step,” Mundeyi said. Some of the arrested foreign nationalsThe Kampala suspects are nationals of several countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. In a separate operation on April 27, immigration authorities arrested 62 Nigerian nationals in Adjumani district. The group was reportedly operating without valid work permits and had been running church-related activities. Of the total 231 individuals arrested, 36 are women, while the rest are men. Preliminary screening indicates that some of the suspects may have been trafficked into the country under false promises of employment, raising concerns about human trafficking. Others are suspected to have been directly involved in cyber-related crimes. All suspects are currently detained at the immigration facility on Jinja Road in Kampala as screening and verification processes continue. Authorities say those found to have violated immigration laws will be prosecuted, fined and deported, while cases involving trafficking or other serious offences will be referred to relevant law enforcement agencies. The ministry of Internal Affairs has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal activities to immigration authorities or police as enforcement operations intensify. Mundeyi added that investigations are ongoing, particularly to apprehend the alleged masterminds who remain at large.The post Online scams: 231 foreign nationals arrested in immigration crackdown appeared first on The Observer.