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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has detained 14 individuals involved in illegal drug trafficking across the country and is actively searching for three additional suspects.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, DEC Police Relations Officer, Theresa Mawere, reported that various operations led to the seizure of cannabis, cocaine and other illicit substances.
In Eastern Province, DEC officers, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and the Forestry Department, arrested Justine Ngoma, a 26-year-old from Yatamu Village, Lundazi District.
Read More: Drug Enforcement Commission nabs two Tanzanians, others for trafficking in illicit drugs
Ngoma was apprehended in Nyimba District while traveling to Lusaka on a bus.
He was found with 121.9 kilogrammes of dry loose cannabis concealed in sacks, discovered during a routine check at the Unya Unya checkpoint.
In another operation, Josias Phiri, a 35-year-old from Yohane Village in Kasenengwa District, was also arrested at the Unya Unya checkpoint with 60.5 kilogrammes of dry loose cannabis.
In Luapula Province, Jonas Bwalya, a 24-year-old from New Mufulira, Mansa District, was intercepted with 800 sachets of high-grade cannabis weighing 1.46 kilogrammes and seven bottles of Benylin with Codeine at the Luamfumu Zambia National Service (ZNS) checkpoint.
In Lusaka Province, DEC officers raided a fuel station in the Lilayi area, leading to the arrest of Kingsley Dominic Uche, a 36-year-old Nigerian national from Chalala, and Andrew Phiri, a 39-year-old from Chilenje South.
They were found with 23.98 grammes of cocaine concealed in a transparent plastic. Additionally, a Toyota Mark X (registration number BAZ 7838) used in the drug activities and K2,950 suspected to be proceeds from drug transactions were seized.
In Central Province, Samson Mwale, a 48-year-old from Chikumbi Village in Mungule, Chisamba District, was found with dry loose cannabis, including 124 packs totaling 1.27 kilogrammes.
Another 2.41 kilogrammes of abandoned cannabis were recovered during the operation.
In Southern Province, DEC’s operations in the Syejumba area, Zimba District, uncovered 25 kilogrammes of dry loose cannabis concealed in banana leaves and over 10 tonnes of fresh cannabis plants abandoned by suspects who are currently at large.
A manhunt has been launched for the suspects. Mawere urged residents near water bodies to avoid illicit cannabis cultivation and focus on productive activities that benefit community development.
In Western Province, DEC apprehended Muyunda Liboma, a 26-year-old drug trafficker previously on the Commission’s watch list.
Liboma and his accomplice, Gift Nyambe, also 26, were found with 909 grammes of high-grade cannabis.
DEC is also searching for Barnwell Kabeleka, a 25-year-old who escaped arrest in Luampa District, leaving behind 80 kilogrammes of dry loose cannabis.
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