Police burst counterfeit maize seed gang, arrest Mtendere couple

Police in Mutendere have arrested a couple for alleged involvement in counterfeit maize seed trade.

Police Public Relations Officer, Rae Hamoonga, stated that on November 30, 2023, a source who was not revealed reported the incident to a seed officer under the Ministry of Agriculture, based in Chilanga.

“Immediately the matter was reported at the police station and officers visited the scene of crime,” Hamoonga said in statement issued in Lusaka on Friday.

He said that the police found bags of maize grains suspected to be counterfeit, which were painted in various colours like red, green, and blue.

Additionally, Hamoonga revealed that a green liquid substance believed to be the paint used in processing the seed was discovered at the scene, too.

He said police also discovered two sealing machines, stitching machine, 114 empty bags of 5kg branded Seedco, and 109 bags of 10 kgs branded Zamseed.

The suspects were identified as Caephus Siwakwi, aged 42, and Adele Nakawala, aged 35, believed to be a couple from Mutendere Compound.

He said the act of counterfeit was contrary to Section 377 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

“The suspects are detained in police custody as investigations are ongoing,” he said.

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