PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Solwezi Duo Nabbed with 600+ Kgs of Cannabis, Man Apprehended in Chililabombwe for Trafficking 36Kgs of Khat-Miraa, and 10 Suspects arrested in 26 Kgs Cannabis and Cocaine Operation in Lusaka.

Lusaka, Wednesday 14th February, 2024.

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in North-Western province has apprehended two (02) male suspects from the Kajoba area in Solwezi District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing over 600 Kilograms.

The suspects have been identified as Martin Chibeka, aged 29 and Gilbert Chibeka, aged 34, who was arrested and jointly charged with trafficking in fresh Cannabis contrary to section 15 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act no. 35 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.

This follows the recent extensive drug abuse awareness campaign in Kyalalankuba Ward, Solwezi District, where 1,119 people were reached out by the DEC’s Education and Counseling Department (ECD), which targeted youths, women, and elderly residents across Kyalalankuba, Kimiteto, Kandemba, Wisdom, and Kimakolwe Compounds.

In another operation, the DEC in Chililabombwe District has arrested Enock Sikapizye, male aged 31, of Katozi Village of Nakonde District, for trafficking in 44 bundles of Fresh Khat- Miraa with a total weight of 36.1 Kilograms.

The arrest follows the intelligence reports our officers in Chililabombwe received that a known male person from Nakonde Border town was supposed to deliver Khat-Miraa to a suspected Congolese national at Kasumbalesa Border Town in Chililabombwe. Acting on this information, a team of DEC officers from the Chililabombwe office trailed the suspect to the Konkola Check Point of Chililabombwe district, where he was apprehended on public transport.

Meanwhile, the Commission in Lusaka has arrested ten male suspects for trafficking in over 26 Kgs of Cannabis, 5.395 grams of cocaine and obstruction of DEC Officers contrary to sections 15 and 64 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act no. 35 of 2021 of the laws of Zambia.

The men have been identified as Victor Osman Tembo, Male aged 54; Joakim Kanyandule, Male aged 21, jointly charged with Francis Yotamu, male, aged 20; Steven Banda, Male, aged 32, who was found with cannabis and 73 sachets of cocaine weighing 4.38 grams and 17 rocks of cocaine weighing 1.015 grams. Steven is jointly charged with two others identified as Ephraim Chanda, male, aged 24, and Trust Lubasi, Male, aged 31. Others Arrested include Douglas Zulu, a male aged 21, jointly charged with Andrew Phiri, a male aged 39, and one male juvenile aged 17.

The Commission continues its unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse in Zambia, as evidenced by recent successful operations in North-Western and Copperbelt Provinces. These operations, coupled with the launch of the National Policy on Drug and Substance Abuse, demonstrate the DEC’s resolute stance against the illegal drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Issued by:
Mwenge Mulenga
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
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