DEC arrests 13 over 150 tonne worth of cannabis
By Staff Reporter
The Drug Enforcement Commission in Muchinga Province has arrested and jointly charged 13 people in Lavushimanda district for trafficking in loose cannabis, cannabis seeds and unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing over 105 tonnes.
In a statement DEC public relations manager Theresa Katongo said the suspects were identified as Bishirt Banda, 65, Zeddy Mumba, 44, Rudoh Ngosa, 25 and Desho Mwape, 25 of Mumpamanzi village, Chintu Mulenga, 17, Maxwell Kachule, 18, Ngosa Manda, 16, Chula Kunda, 17 and Maxwell Manda, 17, all of Isaac village in Lavushimanda district.
Others include Febby Banda, 54, Madson Manda, 31, Maxson Chilando, 43 and Stanley Kazembe, 50, popularly known as ‘’Satana” of Kamwendo village also of Lavushimanda district.
She said the suspects were nabbed in four major operations conducted by the Commission in the area leading to the discovery of several fields of cannabis believed to be supplying various towns in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Eastern Provinces.
“Of the thirteen suspects, nine (9) have also been slapped with additional charges for trafficking in a total of 322.9 kilogrammes of dry loose cannabis in separate incidences,” stated Katongo.
She stated that the suspects were in police custody and would appear in court soon.
