𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝐿𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑎, 𝑇𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑑𝑎𝑦 20𝑡ℎ 𝐹𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦, 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.
𝐼𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦:
Mwenge Mulenga
Public Relations Officer
𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧