PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Weekend Wrap-up: DEC Country-Wide Operations Leads to Seizure of over 1.89 tons of cannabis, with 17 Notorious Drug Ring Leaders Apprehended on the Copperbelt.
Lusaka, Tuesday 26th March, 2024.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) conducted operations in several parts of the country over the weekend tagged “Serenity in my community”, which resulted in seizures of both fresh plants and dry loose cannabis weighing over 1.89 tones with 17 notorious drug ring leaders picked up in hard to reach communities on the Copperbelt.
The Commission in Northern province seized over 1.3 tonnes of fresh plants of cannabis and 34.8 kilograms of dry loose Cannabis from Anthony Bwalya Kasumba, male aged 34, of Nondo village in Senga Hill District, a former convict who abandoned the contraband and is currently on the run. Other suspects have been identified as Kabwe Silungwe, male, aged 54, jointly charged with Obrey Silungwe, male, aged 26, both of Chikoti village in Senga Hill District, who were arrested for Unlawful cultivation of 35 kilograms of fresh plants cannabis.
In another separate operation in Northern Province, the Commission apprehended two (2) suspects for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in cannabis weighing a combined weight of over 300 Kilograms. The two have been identified as Fred Sikasote, male, aged 32, of Iyendwe Village in Mpulungu District, who was found with fresh cannabis plants weighing 305 Kilograms, and Sunday Sikatunga, a male, aged 32, of Kungu Village in Kasama, for trafficking in dry loose cannabis weighing 2.7 Kilograms.
In Northern Western Province, the Commission arrested Kayombo Majimela, a male aged 28 from Lishipa village and Kapalu Liwate, a male aged 44 from Liwate village in Chavuma District, for illegal cultivation of fresh cannabis weighing over 200 Kilograms. Additionally, in Solwezi District, a trio identified as Aaron Chisola, male aged 30, Yanga Womba, male aged 20, and Luka Kasanga, male aged 34, all of Mbonge Village in Solwezi district, were arrested for illegal cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 16 Kilograms.
The Commission in Luapula Province in Chiengi District picked up five (5) suspects for trafficking in a total weight of 124 Kilograms of loose Cannabis and three (3) Kilograms of Cannabis seeds. The suspects involved have been identified as;
Alex Chansa, male aged 32 from Mufinsa 2 Village,
Benjamin Yumba, male aged 33 from Kazembe wa Mabanga,
John Mwila, male aged 36 from Sokota Village,
Benard Kaluba, male aged 28 from Luka Village,
Kaluba Mwila, male aged 27 from Kazembe wa Mabanga Village.
Meanwhile, in Muchinga Province, DEC officers from Chinsali district conducted a joint operation with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Chinyase Village Isoka District, leading to the arrest of Two (2) suspects for trafficking in 126 kilograms of loose cannabis concealed in dry banana leaves packed in polythene bags.
The duo have been identified as Barnabas Mwila, a male aged 22, arrested for trafficking in 65.5kgs of loose cannabis, and Felix Mwila, a male aged 25, apprehended for trafficking in 60.5 Kilograms of cannabis, both of Chimatila Village.
In the turn of events, three (3) individuals believed to be close relatives of the suspects attempted to bribe DEC officers with K1000 cash, but officers maintained their integrity by arresting them together with the other suspects. The three have been identified as George Fube, aged 40; Besa Mulenga, male, aged 46; and Saviour Bwalya, male, aged 26, all of Chimatila Village.
The three relatives have since been detained at Isoka Police Station, and money has been seized pending further investigations and handover to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Furthermore, on the Copperbelt, a combined team of DEC Officers from Ndola, Kitwe, Mufulira and Chililabombwe conducted a clean-up operation in Ndola’s notorious Sinya Compound, as well as Old Mushili, Kaloko, Kawama and Chifubu Dongo area in which 17 notorious ring leaders and drug peddlers were arrested with a total of 35kgs of dry loose cannabis seized. This move has cheered members of the community in the area, who launched several reports to the Commission after living in fear at the hands of these notorious youths.
The Commission’s recent success in seizing cannabis across Zambia highlights its unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations. Further, its collaboration with other agencies is commendable. Working alongside the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Muchinga Province demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive public safety. Additionally, the swift action taken with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the attempted bribery incident underscores the DEC’s commitment to ethical conduct and transparency.
Issued by:
Mwenge Mulenga
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
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