Investigations are under way following the discovery of a mass grave containing 25 bodies of suspected victims of human trafficking in Mzimba on Tuesday.

The mass-grave was discovered by villagers in Mtangatanga Forest Reserve along the Raiply-Mzimba Bypass Road.

National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said evidence collected on the scene shows that the victims are Ethiopian nationals.

“MPS is currently waiting for a postmortem report from pathologists which will state the actual cause of death,” Kalaya said.

All the victims are male and aged between 25 and 40.

Between January and September this year, police intercepted 221 illegal migrants of which 186 were from Ethiopia.