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The Drug Enforcement Commission has grabbed a notorious drug lord who was recognized for supplying illicit substances in Lusaka’s Chibolya Compound.
DEC Public Relations Officer, Mwenge Mulenga, said the drug lord was also well known for supplying the illicit substance in other areas notorious for drug activities in Lusaka.
Mulenga said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday.
He stated that the arrest followed a highly sophisticated operation conducted by the DEC’s Intelligence team from headquarters that led a team of officers from Lusaka Province to conduct a drug raid at a named Hotel in Lusaka’s Long Acres area.
“During the operation, officers managed to apprehend three persons after a fierce pursuit involving heavy gun shelling for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 365.2 grams and Cocaine weighing 13.334 grams,” Mulenga added.
He identified the suspects as Bernard Nkhoma, aged 25, of Kanyama, Peter Zulu, aged 24, of Chaisa and Felix Mutati, aged 19, from John Laing Compound.
“According to the investigations, Bernard, commonly known as Ben Blazer, is suspected to be the ring leader of the trio and a key right-hand man for other known Drug Lords who have been on the DECs watch list for some time,” Mulenga stated.
He emphasized that this arrest marked a footprint in the right direction to closing in on the drug cartels who have been supplying narcotic and psychotropic substances in most parts of Lusaka and the across the country.
Mulenga stated that the trio was in lawful police custody and would appear in court soon.
“In another drug raid, the Commission’s Canine Unit carried out routine highway road joint operations with officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) by setting up road patrol at Singela Check Point, along the Great East Road in Rufunsa District,” he added.
Mulenga said with the aid of well-trained sniffer dogs of the Canine Unit, the joint team managed to apprehend a male suspect identified as Andrew Mumba, aged 24, of Lundazi District.
He stated that Mumba was arrested for trafficking in over 74 Kilograms of loose cannabis concealed in 3 bags which were loaded on a white container Scania truck which was bound for Lusaka from Eastern Province.
“The investigations reveal that the consignment is believed to have been imported from neighbouring Mozambique and was destined to be sold in Lusaka,” Mulenga said.
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He indicated that the suspect had since been charged and would appear in court soon.
Mulenga warned that the recent drug busts serve as a powerful reminder of the DEC’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Zambian communities from the detrimental effects of drug trafficking.
“The Commission remains vigilant and committed to its mission of creating safer communities by dismantling drug cartels, apprehending perpetrators, and raising public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse,” he assured.
Mulenga encouraged all citizens to join the fight by reporting suspicious activity and supporting its efforts to build a drug-free Zambia.
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