WAJALE (SD) – Somaliland police in Wajale, a commercial district, bordering Ethiopia, reportedly arrested 120 Ethiopian migrants who were crossing into Somaliland illegally.

The Wajale district police commander told reporters that the migrants along with the smugglers had been arrested.

“Police at around 4:00 am last night encountered and arrested 120 smugglers from Ethiopia, who were on two vehicles and three trucks,” he said.

The Wajale police commander added that they are planning to repatriate the migrants as soon as possible.

It is not yet clear where the migrants Ethiopians, mostly young men were headed.

Ethiopian migrants enter Somaliland illegally on a regular basis, with smugglers helping them cross the largely unguarded border for a fee.