Zambian authorities have intercepted seven Somali migrants who were allegedly being smuggled through the country after they were discovered hidden beneath sacks of rice in a vehicle traveling toward neighboring Zimbabwe, officials said.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) confirmed the incident, stating that the migrants were found during an inspection of a Toyota Probox in the town of Kapiri Mposhi.

According to Oliver Nzala, the ZRA’s Manager of Corporate Communications, the vehicle was en route to the Chirundu border crossing, a major transit point between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Officials said officers became suspicious while inspecting the vehicle and uncovered the seven Somali nationals concealed beneath bags of rice in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

The driver and all seven migrants were subsequently taken into custody and handed over to Zambia’s Department of Immigration, where investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the smuggling attempt and whether a wider trafficking network was involved.

Zambia is a key transit country for migrants traveling from the Horn of Africa toward South Africa, with many relying on smuggling networks that use cargo vehicles to bypass immigration checkpoints.

Authorities have stepped up efforts to combat human trafficking and irregular migration along the region’s major transport corridors as the number of migrants attempting the journey continues to rise.