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๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ’๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐
๐ฟ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ 20๐กโ ๐น๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ, 2024.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Eastern Province has arrested former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Driver and Security personnel, identified as Juvensio Mathews Phiri, male aged 53, for trafficking in 55.6 Kg of loose cannabis.
Mr Juvensio was picked up in Lusaka’s Chelstone area by a combined team of officers from Eastern and Lusaka Provinces that trailed him from Chipata, where he was ferrying the contraband meant to be supplied in Lusaka. He is believed to be working with other people who fled with him when he was first intercepted in the eastern Province. He is in lawful police custody and has been charged with trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 15 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021.
The Commission in the Southern Province has also arrested and jointly charged three (3) individuals for trafficking in 29 boxes of 100ml bottles of benylin with codeine with a total quantity of 1,392 bottles.
The trio that was in route to Lusaka from South Africa were intercepted at Kazungula One Stop Boarder post and have been identified as Stella Mulala, Female aged 42, a business lady of Kabangwe area in Lusaka, Edina Muwezwa, female aged 42, a farmer of Lusaka West area, and Siphelani Marumahoko, male aged 42, a Zimbabwean truck driver.
Meanwhile, the Commission in Mwense District of Luapula Province apprehended four (4) people for illegal cultivation and trafficking of cannabis weighing over 300 Kilograms. These have been identified as;
Mathews Nkandu, male aged 42, of Munas Village, was apprehended for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 128.4 Kilograms.
Newman Chongo, male aged 42, of Kashingo Village, was arrested for unlawful cultivation of 188.6 Kilograms of fresh cannabis.
Kasuba Chilambwe, male aged 58, of Lukwesa Village, was arrested for trafficking in 290 grams of dry loose cannabis.
Francis Mpundu, male aged 43, of Kalindi Village, was apprehended for trafficking in 141.8 grams of dry loose cannabis and
Joe Chishala, male aged 45 of Lukwesa Village, for trafficking in 148.2 grams of dry loose cannabis.
Further, in Northern Province, DEC has arrested Sydney Simfukwe, male aged 29, of Chilioni Village in Mpulungu District, for the illegal cultivation of over 100 Kilograms of fresh Cannabis.
All suspects are in lawful police custody and will appear in court soon.
The Drug Enforcement Commission's recent operations showcase its relentless pursuit of combating illegal drug activity across Zambia. From large-scale cannabis busts to targeted seizures and stakeholder collaborations, these actions send a clear message: drug trafficking has no haven in the country.
In the meantime, the Commission is pleased with its continued success in legal proceedings, exemplified by the recent conviction of the former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ms. Charity Katanga. She was arrested by the Commission’s Anti Money Laundering Unit (AMLIU) for possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, totaling Two Million and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars (USD 2,030,000.00) and One Million, Five Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand and Five Kwacha (1,522,005.00), contravening Section 71 of the Forfeiture and Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.
This highlights the Commission's dedication to conducting meticulous and effective investigations, essential in winning legal battles on money laundering, as it facilitates the presentation of crucial evidence for the prosecuting team.
๐ผ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฆ:
Mwenge Mulenga
Public Relations Officer
๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง