Border Management Authority stepping up immigration controls ahead of Easter

The Border Management Authority (BMA) said that it is stepping up immigration controls ahead of the busy Easter travel period with new security measures being implemented at ports of entry.

The BMA has introduced high-security passport stamps each linked to a specific immigration officer as part of efforts to curb fraud and improve accountability.

Traveller numbers are expected to spike in the coming days and authorities are looking to clamp down on illegal border crossings and corruption.

The authority said that immigration requirements remain strict with all travellers expected to present valid machine-readable passports with at least two blank pages while Visa conditions must be fully complied with.

Parents travelling with minors are also required to carry unabridged birth certificates or the necessary consent documents.

Authorities said that high-risk border areas will be closely monitored. Law enforcers will increase inspections of people, vehicles and goods and carry out intelligence operations.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said, “Our stamps have a unique number allocated to a particular immigration officer, which means that should any passport be stamped illegally, without that person being officially processed in the system, we are able to link that particular stamp on any passport to the official.”

The authority warns that anyone attempting to enter or exit the country illegally or assist in doing so  will face arrest and prosecution.