Luanda: At least 1,323 citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were deported last week by authorities in Lunda-Norte for illegally entering and remaining in Angola.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the National Police spokesperson, Domingos Muanafumo, stated that most of the immigrants were involved in diamond mining, fuel smuggling, and related crimes. Among the 1,323 deported individuals, 175 were minors.

Muanafumo added that the immigrants were repatriated through the border posts in the municipalities of Luremo, Camaxilo, L³vua, Chitato, Cambulo, Dundo, and Canzar. In addition to the deportations, authorities seized 6,990 liters of smuggled fuel, 11 diamonds of various carats, and 260 kilograms of cannabis in the municipalities of X¡ Muteba, L³vua, Lucapa, Chitato, Dundo, and Cambulo.