Ethiopian Federal Police Hands Over Suspected Cross-Border Crime Ringleader to Justice Ministry After Investigation, 35 Charges Filed

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — The Ethiopian Federal Police has handed over suspected cross-border crime ringleader Adnew Bashaw Wudamo and his alleged accomplice, Tamirat Erdado Moloro, to the Ministry of Justice’s Attorney General’s Office after completing an investigation into an organized criminal network accused of illegally transporting people from Ethiopia to South Africa.

According to the police investigation file, the suspects allegedly established and led an organized criminal group that recruited victims from Hawassa and Hosaena and transported them through Moyale, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique on their way to South Africa.

The investigation found that the suspects allegedly collected between 400,000 and one million birr from each victim, receiving payments in cash and through bank accounts. Victims unable to pay the demanded amounts on time, along with their families, were reportedly subjected to threats and intimidation to force payment.

The police investigation further documented the severe abuse victims allegedly endured during the journeys. They were forced to walk for days without sufficient food and water and reportedly suffered beatings, hunger, physical pain and psychological distress at the hands of brokers and their accomplices.

Investigators also found that victims were transported in dangerously overcrowded containers without adequate ventilation, tanker trucks and tarpaulin-covered vehicles not designed to carry passengers, exposing them to serious risks to their lives.

The consequences extended beyond the journeys themselves. Numerous victims reportedly endured prolonged imprisonment and hardship in detention facilities in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, with some held for up to two years.

Based on the police investigation file, the Federal Attorney General’s Office filed 35 charges against the suspects. The criminal case is currently being heard by a regular court, according to information from the Ethiopian Federal Police.

Adnew was previously arrested in Malawi and brought back to Ethiopia through coordinated efforts involving the Ethiopian Federal Police, INTERPOL, ROCK and the Malawi Police. The latest handover follows the completion of the investigation and advances the case into the judicial process.