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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested members of an alleged notorious drug trafficking cartel accused of mocking law enforcement and the government on social media.
The cartel reportedly operated under Facebook pages themed “Ichipanda Alliance” and “Lesa na Satana.”
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, DEC Public Relations Officer, Allan Tamba, said the suspects were apprehended during a sting operation conducted in Kansenshi, Ndola District, Copperbelt Province.
The suspects have been identified as Raymond Panda, aged 34, Sylvia Matantini, aged 21, and Solo Mwananshiku, aged 32, all residents of Northrise Township in Ndola.
They were found with 98 sachets of compressed high-grade cannabis weighing 7.5 kilogrammes and 39 bottles of Benylin with Codeine, each containing 100 milliliters.
Tamba further revealed that three additional suspects were apprehended in connection with the operation.
Chita Mulenga, aged 31, of Mushili-Bonano Township in Ndola, was found with six sachets of high-grade cannabis weighing 23.2 grams.
Chilambe Bala, aged 29, of Chandamali Compound in Mufulira, was found with four sachets of cannabis weighing 9.2 grams, while Chishimba Chilufya, aged 30, of the same compound, was found with 1.2 grams of marijuana.
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According to Tamba, Panda, Mulenga, and Bala have been identified as the masterminds behind the cartel’s operations and administrators of the “Ichipanda Alliance” and “Lesa na Satana” social media platforms.
The seized drugs are now in DEC custody, and all suspects are awaiting court processes.
Tamba expressed concern over the growing trend of using social media to promote illegal activities and incite public disobedience against law enforcement agencies.
He warned that the DEC had deployed strategies to curb such misconduct and bring offenders to justice.
He urged the public to refrain from drug trafficking and the misuse of social media, emphasizing that these vices were harmful and posed a threat to national peace and security.
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