Police have charged a Tanzanian woman and a Malawian man with two counts of human trafficking under the Trafficking in Persons Act.

Yakin Japhet, 43, and Loveness Joseph, 31, are accused of trafficking both adults and minors. The suspects were arrested on Saturday night after a tip-off led to their capture at the Mbamba Bay border.

They allegedly tried to transport five victims, including three minors aged 14 to 18, and two adult women aged 24 and 36, from Nkhotakota to Mozambique.

The victims were reportedly destined to work in restaurants across the border. The two suspects face charges under sections 14(1) and 15(1) of the Act.

Japhet and Joseph are expected to appear in Nkhatabay Court once arrangements for their transport are completed.