How a Secret Migrant Trafficking Syndicate Took Over Malawi

An aerial view of a safe house inside Dzaleka Refugee Camp where criminal gangs house trafficked Ethiopian migrants.

An in-depth investigation has uncovered a sophisticated human smuggling syndicate operating within Malawi, deeply embedded in the government and exploiting vulnerable Ethiopian migrants seeking better opportunities in countries like South Africa. 

Operations Centered in Dzaleka Refugee Camp

The syndicate's activities are primarily based in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, home to approximately 53,000 refugees from conflict-ridden regions such as the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes. Gang leaders have co-opted senior government officials, including police and immigration officers, to facilitate the migrants' passage. Some cabinet ministers allegedly accept protection money to overlook these illicit operations, allowing the trade to flourish. 

Wealth and Influence of Gang Members

Members of this trafficking network have amassed significant wealth, owning luxury hotels, mansions in affluent suburbs, and nightclubs within Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Their influence extends to high-powered connections that eliminate competition from rival operators, rendering official attempts to dismantle the syndicate ineffective. 

Perilous Journey for Migrants

The smuggling route begins in Ethiopia's Hosaena region, passing through Kenya and Tanzania before reaching Dzaleka Refugee Camp via Malawi's northern border. To avoid law enforcement detection, traffickers compel migrants to travel at night, sleep in forests, cross near-flooding rivers, or sail on Lake Malawi in unsafe boats. Many migrants, some as young as 13, succumb to illness and exhaustion during this treacherous journey. 

High-Profile Cases Highlighting the Issue

The syndicate's operations gained national attention in April 2022 when a mass grave containing 30 Ethiopian bodies was discovered in Chikangawa Forest, northern Malawi. This led to a high-profile murder trial involving the stepson of former president Tadikila Mutharika, whose cargo van was allegedly used by the traffickers. Although Mutharika was acquitted, the trial exposed the extensive protection afforded to human trafficking gangs. 

This investigation, conducted by the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ-Malawi), involved over 30 sources from Malawi's state security apparatus, other state departments, civil society, and communities in Dzaleka. It sheds light on the systematic corruption enabling these gangs to operate with impunity. 

For more detailed information, you can read the full article here.