About 130 illegal immigrants were arrested in just four days during Operation Clarion in the Zambezi Region.

Of this number, 127 are Zambians, while the rest are Angolan nationals.

83 of the illegal immigrants have already been deported while 47 remain in police custody facing criminal charges.

Most of those arrested were found in Chantuhu Village, which is mainly inhabited by Zambian nationals.

Police Chief Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo is of the view that structures erected by illegal immigrants should be demolished.

"There is a village we discovered where people were put up, and these are people that have been given land by the headman, so the headmen are also contributing. Some of these structures do not belong to foreigners; they belong to Namibians. They rent them out to foreigners. Namibia has become a playground for foreigners coming here to start committing crimes assisted by Namibians."

During 'Operation Clarion', more than N$22,000 in fines were issued for illegal fishing, while the Traffic Department served 22 fines, worth N$20,500.

The Unit Commander for Community Policing in the Zambezi Region, Inspector Kisco Sitali, says police are also aware of illegal timber harvesting taking place along the border with Zambia, further vowing to ensure that the culprits are arrested.