By Mark Thompson | HartelpoolMail

HARTLEPOOL, UK — IMMIGRATION officials are set to join the search for three Africans who went missing during an exchange trip.

The Ethiopian trio disappeared while visiting Hartlepool as part of the Global Xchange programme, which ended on Monday.

The Mail reported how Hartlepool Police joined forces with London’s Metroplitan Police in searching for three men who went missing during a short trip to the capital.

One later got back in touch with trip organisers and was deported before a female Ethiopian guest went missing last week.

Now the UK Border Agency says it will become involved once the missing visitors’ visas run out next Wednesday, September 9.

A spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said: “We expect anyone coming to the UK to play by the rules and comply with the terms of their visa allowing them to stay here.

“We will seek to remove anyone with no right to be here. In 2008 nearly 68,000 people were removed from the UK or voluntarily departed.”

The Mail previously reported how three Ethiopian men went missing following a tour of the Houses of Parliament on July 15.

Zerihun Weldeyohans Alaro, 24, later contacted organisers after staying with family in London, but was deported.Exchange visitors Habtamu Debella, 27, and Muluneh Tilahun, 21, are still missing.

Konjit Assefa, 22, who was staying on the Headland, was the latest to go missing and has not been seen since Tuesday, August 25.

Programme leaders told the Mail that they will seriously think about which countries they work with in the light of the disappearances.

The Global Xchange programme involves 18 volunteers, nine from the UK and nine from Ethiopia, living in Hartlepool while working for community organisations.

The team has just finished the second part of the exchange, having already spent three months in Africa.