By 
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has seized five commercial buses valued at over K1.1 million.
The Commission also seized a fully furnished house of unknown value in Lusaka suspected to have been obtained from proceeds of crime.
DEC Public Relations Officer, Mwenge Mulenga, confirmed the seizure in a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday.
Mulenga said the seizure followed a series of intelligence investigations that had connected the said properties to an arrest that was done by the Commission in July 2023.
He stated the case was involving seven suspects who were found with hard drugs, including Cocaine, Heroin and Diazepam.
“The seized assets, including buses bearing registration numbers AID 734, BAH 1188, AQB 957, AIC 1975 and BAV 2165, were registered in the names of unidentified individuals,” Mulenga said.
He added the owners had since switched off phones and gone into hiding including the individual that used to receive the cashing from the drivers of the said buses.
Mulenga stated that the Commission’s investigations further revealed that the house in question, whose records do not exist with local authorities, was registered under a power utility company.
“The suspects were using the details of a known individual who has since denied ownership of the property,” he said.
Mulenga stated that the Commission had extended notice to the members of the public who wish to claim the properties mentioned that the forfeiture process to the state, of the said tented properties has since been instituted.
He said the Commission shall proceed to surrender the assets to the state within six months specified period where no proceedings or claim takes place.
“Meanwhile, the Commission in Livingstone District, in collaboration with the Chirundu officers, conducted an operation at the Victoria Falls border where they intercepted two trucks belonging to a named company which was carrying a total of 142 boxes of Benlyn with Codeine en route to Zambia from South Africa,” Mulenga added.
He identified the suspects as Kenneth Nsofu, male, aged 47, of Kitwe township and Micheal Musonda, male, aged 45, of Lusaka, both truck drivers of a named company.
In Lusaka Province, Mulenga said the Commission had apprehended a Somalian national identified as Abduiqadie Habib, male aged 31 of Emmasdale area, for trafficking in four bundles of Khat Miraa.
He stated that DEC had seized the drugs and the vehicle that was used to commit the illicit activity.
“Furthermore, DEC in Western Province has arrested Liwanga Liwanga, male aged 45, of Nongungu village of Limulunga District, for illegal cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 152 kilogrammes and for possession of dry loose cannabis weighing 620 grams,” Mulenga revealed.
He said all suspects involved in the illegal drug activities had been charged and are awaiting court appearances.
Mulenga assured that the Commission remained steadfast in dismantling criminal networks and seizing assets derived from illegal activities.
“We urge the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and report any suspicious activities or information that may assist our ongoing investigations,” he said.
Mulenga said the Commission’s vigilance across the country had resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs.
“These actions highlight the Commission’s dedication to disrupting drug trafficking networks and protecting Zambian communities.Working together with the communities will help ensure a safer and healthier Zambia,” he stated.
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