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About 20 people have been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for illegal cultivation of cannabis weighing 570 kilogrammes (Kg).
The suspects were from North-Western, Northern and Copperbelt Provinces.
Assistant Public Relations Officer, Sydney Katongo, told journalists in Lusaka on Wednesday that the Commission apprehended three individuals for illegal cultivation and trafficking in cannabis weighing over 270 Kg.
He named the suspects as Bantom Songezha, aged 45, and Caanan Hampongo, aged 45, both from the Kamabenge area in Solwezi District and Maxwell Samtemba, aged 46, from Kabanda area in Mwinilunga District of North-Western Province.
“In another drug operation in Northern Province, eight individuals were arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis and trafficking of illicit drugs weighing a combined weight of over 200 Kg,” Katongo stated.
He identified the suspects as Blessings Chilufya, male, aged 20, who is jointly charged with Wandras Mbalusha, male, aged 22, both of the Kwa TB area in Kasama District.
Katongo said others arrested included Saviour Mwamba, male aged 20, jointly charged with Concilia Mubanga, male aged 24, both of Munkonge Village of Kasama district.
“Amos Chibesha, male aged 32, jointly charged with Mwenya Emeldah, female aged 32 of Munkonge Village, James Mulenga, male aged 46, and Barbra Kabwe, female aged 35 both from Kanabangu village of Nsama District,” he said.
Katongo disclosed that during the operation one suspect, identified as Steven Mazimba, a male, aged 61, from Kasama town, was apprehended for trafficking in a precursor chemical identified as Potassium Permanganate weighing 111 grams.
On the Copperbelt Province, Katongo said the Commission also arrested eight suspects for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing a combined weight of over 100 Kg.
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“The suspects have been identified as Timothy Mwanza, male aged 24; Harrison Simuchimba, male aged 30; Frank Mwewa, male aged 25; Joseph Mulelwa, male aged 21; Josphat Mulelwa, male aged 23; Ivin Mulelwa, male aged 20, Benjamin Musanta, male aged 27, and Paul Mwambazi, male aged 48,” he said.
Katongo stated that all were from Justina Village in Lufwanyama District and were in lawful police custody and would appear in court soon.
He said the recent operations conducted by the Commission across three provinces underscored its persistent endeavor to tackle the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs in Zambia.
“These apprehensions signal that the Commission is steadfast in safeguarding communities from the detrimental impacts of illicit substances,” Katongo said.
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