Zambia intensifies efforts against trade-based money laundering crimes

Trade-based money laundering remains one of the least understood and most under-enforced forms of financial crime in Zambia and globally, according to authorities.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gilbert Phiri, highlighted this issue during a workshop on “Combatting Trade-Based Money Laundering,” organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He noted that transnational criminals were exploiting the complexities of international trade to launder money.

Expressing gratitude to the UNODC Regional Office for its support in organizing the workshop, Phiri stated the need for vigilance and informed responses from law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to effectively tackle this sophisticated crime.

“We must remain vigilant and develop informed responses to these complex schemes to combat this vice effectively,” Phiri stated.

Director-General of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Nason Banda, reinforced DEC’s commitment to fighting money laundering but acknowledged the need for an inter-agency approach.

“We cannot tackle money laundering alone. Collaboration among agencies is essential to securing not only convictions but also the forfeiture of assets, thereby crippling criminal enterprises,” Banda said.

He also stressed the importance of continuous capacity building, noting that training allows officers to learn from international perspectives and stay ahead of evolving money laundering tactics.

The workshop, Banda said, underscored the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and international bodies in strengthening efforts against trade-based money laundering.

Key officials present at the workshop included Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, Accountant General Nsandi Manza, American Embassy representative Spencer Driscoll, and UNODC Country Coordinator Liya Tembo.

The training aimed to equip professionals from various institutions with the international knowledge and expertise needed to address money laundering challenges on a global scale.

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