Zambian police say they are making headways in combating Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraud that the country’s banking sector has been experiencing following the arrest of a Kenyan and Bolivian gang.

Zambia has recorded a significant increase in the number of ATM fraud which has resulted in the theft of millions of dollars from unsuspecting bank clients.

However, Zambian police say they have arrested a Kenyan and two Bolivians in connection with the ATM fraud.

According to spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda, the trio entered Zambia on December 9 through the Nakonde border post using a Kenyan registered vehicle.

Chanda said the trio was then arrested while planting their theft equipment at ATMs in the capital Lusaka. More foreigners, the police said, are in the process of being cornered in connection with ATM frauds.

“We have arrested a Kenyan and two Bolivians in connection with ATM frauds. This is a breakthrough and we are hoping that more fraudsters would be arrested,” Chanda said.

Chanda identified the suspects as Abdalla Sherif Hassan Alwi, Toyano Miliko Kostationov and Tonkau Hristo Ivanov.

Zambian police have been warning members of the public to be wary as they conduct their transactions on ATMs following information that foreign cybercriminals have entered Zambia and are even training Zambians on cybercrime.

The Bankers Association of Zambia has also warned of increased ATM theft in the country.

In June this year, the Zambian police said over $4 million had been stolen from Zambian ATMs.