Police impound 13 vehicles with fake number plates, as car thefts spiral in Lusaka

Police in Lusaka have impounded 13 motor vehicles suspected to have fake registration number plates.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale says this was during an operation aimed at curbing cases of theft of motor vehicles which has been on an increase especially in Lusaka.

Read more: Police recover two stolen vehicles, as suspected robbers abandon vehicles

Mwale said some of the owners were abandoning their motor vehicles upon seeing Police officers inspecting motor vehicles at different points.

He said during the operation, four people were arrested for possession of suspected illicit drugs and the suspects have since been handed over to the Drug Enforcement Commission for further Investigations.

“The operation was conducted on March 17, 2023 and March 18, 2023 between 11:00 hours and 17:00 hours in different places within Lusaka. All the impounded motor vehicles are parked at the Police Station while investigations are ongoing,” Mwale said.

Meanwhile, Mwale said the Inspector General of Police has reverted 10 Traffic Police officers from Traffic Department to General Police Duties for failing to adhere to directives of mounting unauthorized snap traffic Checkpoints on public roads.

“Recently, the Inspector General of Police warned of stern action against Police officers who mount unauthorised snap traffic checkpoints on public roads and in compounds,” he said.

Mwale said all snap traffic checkpoints should be mounted with authority from Provincial Police Commissioners and that they should be properly devised and coordinated so that they are not an inconvenience to the traveling public.

“The institutional position on the issue of snap traffic checkpoints still stands and any officer found wanting will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Contributed by Augustine Sichula

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