5 south farmers arrested for trafficking in cannabis
By Staff Reporter
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested five small-scale farmers in Southern Province for trafficking in over one tonne of cannabis, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
In a statement, DEC Deputy Public Relations Officer Kamufisa Manchishi said the suspects included Victor Siabasimbi, 31, of Simasengele Village in Sinazongwe District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 611 Kilograms and Sara Shangombe, 39, jointly charged with Emma Shabulika, both of the same village for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 245 kilograms.
“Others are Lillian Shamuwele, 29 a small scale farmer of Masengele village in Sinazongwe District, jointly charged with Aleti Bilo, 20 of the same village for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 240 kilograms,” said Manchishi
He said the suspects are in Police custody and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile Manchishi said the Commission in Lusaka had arrested two people for various money laundering offences involving over K1, 800, 000.
She said the two are Clara Kansamba, 33, an assistant accountant of Plot No. 404/25 Lilanda, and Sylvia Hibeene, 30, a cashier of Plot No. L7587M Chilanga, arrested for fraudulent false accounting, theft and money laundering, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
“Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between 1st September, 2018 and March, 2019, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, the duo did steal a total amount of K 1, 822, 617 from a named brewery company. The duo, whilst working for the said brewery company in Lusaka never receipted money collected from salesmen, claiming that the company’s system was down. The duo further made false entries into the system purporting to have posted the cash which were later cancelled as journal reversals and then shared between the two,” he said
Manchishi added that the Commission in Lusaka has also arrested Fredrick Chanda Kangwa Nkonde, 34, a businessman of House No. 247 in Bonaventure Makeni for forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining goods by false pretences, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
“Particulars are that on dates unknown, but between 1st June, 2018 and 31st May, 2019, Fredrick Chanda Kangwa Nkonde jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did advertise plots for sale being four (4) sub-divisions of a farm in Lusaka’s Baobab area in the Daily Nation and Mast newspapers without consent from the known land owners. The suspect further took a known Zambian to view two plots he had shown interest in buying, without knowing that one of the plots belonged to the same potential buyer. The suspect also prepared and issued two contracts of sale and receipts under his company called Radias Corporation Limited. However, as the suspect was in the process of obtaining a down payment of K300, 000 from the suspecting buyer, the Commission managed to apprehend him,” said Manchishi
Manchishi mentioned that all the suspects are on police bond and will appear in court soon.
