PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DEC Cracks Down on Identity Theft and Money Laundering Syndicate While Continuing on its Nationwide Offensive Targets on Illicit Drug Traffickers

Lusaka, Saturday 10th February, 2024

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), through its Anti Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU), has arrested a 46-year-old man from Linda Compound in Lusaka for identity theft and money laundering offences involving over ZMW 32,000.

This follows a series of identity theft cases reported in Lusaka in which one of the cases has led to the arrest of Leonard Banda, who, whilst acting together with other persons unknown on dates believed to be between 1st August 2022 and 5th February 2024, forged two (2) National Registration Cards (NRCs) bearing the names Viyeso Chileshe and Kelvin Mwila. He later forged 2 E-pay slips and two confirmations from two different employers for a loan application purporting that it was genuinely issued by two different named government health institutions when, in fact, it was not.

Mr Leonard went on to fraudulently obtain a credit of ZMW 32,593.05 in the name of one of the forged NRCs. He later attempted to obtain another credit of ZMW 50,000 at the same financial institution using the other forged NRC.

The suspect has since been charged with forgery, uttering false documents, as well as obtaining and attempting to obtain credit by false pretences. He is on bond and scheduled to appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, the Commission has continued its national offensive approach against the trafficking and importation of illicit drugs, leading to a string of arrests and the seizure of a staggering amount of illegal substances across various provinces.

The Commission in Nchelenge District of Luapula province has arrested John Mulenga, male, aged 62, for cultivating over 500 kilograms of fresh cannabis plants. While in another operation, officers apprehended a suspect identified as John Kalenga Katwishi, a male aged 28 from the Ntamba Mweru area of Chiengi District, for trafficking in over 70 Kilograms of loose Cannabis. The suspect is believed to have acquired a Congolese Identification Card, which he used to cross into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where he used to buy illicit drugs and supply them to Zambian communities.

Further, a joint controlled operation involving the DEC officers from Chirundu and Lusaka Province led to the arrest of a South African national named Kim Armour Gittings, aged 36, a Security Manager of a named company residing in Lusaka’s Makeni area for trafficking in over 500 grams of suspected high-grade loose cannabis concealed in buckets of jungle oats.

The suspect was intercepted at Lusaka’s Linda Junction, receiving the illicit substance laden on a named bus from South Africa, which officers from the Chirundu border trailed after being flagged by sniffer dogs of the DEC Chirundu Canine Unit.

Officers conducted an extended search at the residence of Mr Gittings where 23 bottles of suspected illegal liquid substance were found and laboratory results have confirmed the following volumes:

– 4 bottles of cannabis oil marked THC 1200 mg with a total volume of 120mls

– 5 bottles of cannabis oil marked CBD dominant 1:1 ratio 1200mg with a total volume of 150mls

– 5 bottles labeled full spectrum premium cannabis oil CBD 600mg with a total volume of 150mls

– 5 bottles labeled full spectrum premium cannabis oil CBD plus THC 1:1 ratio 1800mg with a total volume of 150mls

– 4 bottles labeled full spectrum premium cannabis oil CBD plus THC 1:1 ratio 900mg with a total volume of 120mls

Still in Lusaka, DEC officers from Lusaka Province managed to apprehend Fanwell Mechi, aged 26, a businessman of Lusaka’s Makeni Simson, for trafficking in 120 bottles of Benlyine containing Codeine. The suspect was picked up from Levy Junction Mall, where officers also seized a Toyota Vitz used to commit the crime. Another suspect arrested in the illegal pharmaceutical drugs is Bright Chitondo, aged 39, of Lusaka’s SOS area, who was found with 59 bottles of Codeine at Mandevu Junction, where he was selling the illicit drugs.

The Commission continues to take a proactive role and remains vigilant and committed to bringing perpetrators to justice. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to the authorities. Together, we can build a safer and healthier Zambia for all.

Issued by:

Mwenge Mulenga

Public Relations Officer

Drug Enforcement Commission
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