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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested and charged a Chinese national for money laundering involving more than US$14.9 million and over K1 million.
The suspect was identified as Longrong Chen, male aged 29, a manager and signatory to the business accounts for Crowline Trading Limited domiciled at a known bank, DEC Public Relations Officer, Hussine Khan, said.
“Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between November 1, 2022 and September 29, 2023, the suspect jointly and whilst working with other persons unknown received a sum of US$248,993.00 in the company dollar account through an isolated cyber fraud.
“Further, in the same period under review, the business accounts for the named company received about US$14,704,274.44 and K3,031,775.00 through large deposits and transfers on both accounts, which monies are suspected to be proceeds of crime,” he said.
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Additionally, Khan said the amounts were transferred to some offshore accounts purporting to show that they were ordering goods when, in fact, they were not.
He said the suspect had since been charged with being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime and money laundering.
Meanwhile, the commission arrested Alice Phiri, female, aged 24 and Brian Zulu, male, aged 40, in a special operation conducted in Lusaka’s Chawama Township for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to over US$170, 000.00.
In a separate case, the commission arrested and charged Amukwe Mubuyaeta, a male aged 41, for obtaining credit by false pretenses and money laundering.
“Particulars of the matter are that the suspect jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown on dates unknown but between January 1, 2023 and September 11, 2023 fraudulently obtained a loan of K80, 000 from a known microfinance company by purporting that he was a known medical doctor employed under the Ministry of Health at the University Teaching Hospital when in fact not,” he added.
Khan said all suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
“We therefore wish to urge all members of the public to safeguard their identity documents, such as National Registration Cards, owing to the increased levels of fraud in the country.
“Further, all players in the financial space are encouraged to hasten their due diligence protocols to protect their clients,” he said.
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