𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝙻𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚔𝚊, 𝚂𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝚜𝚝 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛, 𝟸0𝟸𝟻.
𝐓𝐖𝐎 (𝟐) 𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐌, 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 (𝟒) 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐒𝐃𝟐𝟑𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐈𝐓 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka District in Lusaka Province has jointly charged and arrested Douglas Njobvu, male aged 43 of Katuba area in Chibombo District, in his capacity as Director of a named company and Archie Duncan McTribouy, male aged 35, a resident of Rhodes Park community. The arrest is in connection with a case involving suspected gold worth USD224,000.
It is alleged that the duo was involved in a transaction where the victim was to be supplied with 30 kilogrammes of gold valued at USD224,000. However, the suspects later allegedly informed the victim that the gold got lost while in transit. During investigations, the DEC seized one (01) Toyota Allion and one (01) Toyota Camry; motor vehicles which are reasonably believed to be proceeds of crime. Njobvu and McTribouy are also linked to another matter related to suspected gold which is currently under investigation; where the Commission has seized 72 bars of suspected gold, five (05) crystals suspected to be diamonds, one (01) Ford Ranger, one (01) Toyota Mark X and Two (02) Toyota Allion motor vehicles. In this particular matter, the duo was found with some foreigners at a named Company, where they were about to engage in another suspicious transaction.
The suspects have been placed in lawful custody and are expected to appear in court soon.
In another separate operation conducted in Kabwe District in Central Province, the Commission has formally charged and arrested Kalumba Felix Sichalwe, a male Accountant aged 29. Particulars of the matter are that; Kalumba Felix Sichalwe on dates unknown but between 1st June, 2024 and 31st September 2025, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did possess K44, 072.33 in his Personal Account at a known Bank; money which is reasonably believed to be proceeds of crime. It is further alleged that Sichalwe also did possess a Mercedez Benz motor vehicle and an incomplete house in the Mine area in Kabwe District; properties reasonably believed to be proceeds of crime; pusuant to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
Meanwhile, in another independent matter, the State has recorded a successful conviction in relation to four (04) suspects involved in a case of Possession of Counterfeit Currency valued at USD230,000 in Mumbwa District in Central Province. The suspects who were formally charged and arrested on Wednesday, 1st October 2025; were successfully prosecuted in collaboration with the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), and other Law Enforcement Agencies. Those convicted were Muhammad Hashim, sentenced to 3 years (36 months) Imprisonment with Hard Labour, Eddie Saidi Marugujo, sentenced to 3 years (36 months) Imprisonment with Hard Labour, Robson Siuluta, sentenced to 3 years (36 months) Imprisonment with Hard Labour and Mariah Namwinga, sentenced to 3 years (36 months) Simple Imprisonment.
All sentences are effective Wednesday, 1st October 2025.
The DEC wishes to call on members of the public to be security conscious, to exercise maximum caution when engaging in gold-related businesses and to ensure that transactions involving huge sums of money are conducted via legitimate financial systems through credible financial institutions in order to avoid being defrauded using counterfeit currencies. In the same vein, the Commission wishes to encourage financial institutions to hastily report suspected intrusions by cyber criminals into their systems. The convictions recorded in the recent past indicate enhanced capacity by the DEC to counter financial and cybercrimes.
We further urge citizens to be cautious when transacting with persons or entities they do not know very well; and to continue reporting suspicious activities to Law Enforcement Agencies so that through collective action, we can effectively prevent, detect and prosecute financial crimes.
Issued by:
Allan Tamba
Public Relations Officer
𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻