DEC arrest over 600 in Operation Chalo
By Staff Reporter
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) at the weekend arrested 637 people for various offenses in a swoop dubbed, Operation Chalo in several notorious areas across the country.
DEC public relation Officer Theresa Katongo explained that 183 were drug related offences, 335 were cases of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime and riotous conduct while 119 are suspected prohibited immigrants.
Katongo said the highest number of suspects was from Copperbelt Province which had 169 suspects, representing 26.5% followed by Central Province which had 164, representing 25.7%.
“A total of 10.8 tons of fresh cannabis plants and 1.8 tons of dry loose cannabis were seized during the operation, with the highest quantity recorded in Kaisolele Village of Muchinga Province where several cannabis fields were uprooted,” said Katongo
She said other seizures made during the operation include 4, 170 diazepam tablets, 1, 098 bottles of codeine, 360 grams of cannabis seeds and two (2) jars of cannabis hair gel.
“The Operation further yielded 10, 970 litres of smuggled petrol as well as household items such as stoves, television sets, home theatre systems and mattresses suspected to be proceeds of crime.The Commission wishes to thank defence and security wings for the collaboration in making Operation Chalo a success,” she said
Katongo added that the operation was conducted in the early hours of Saturday, 22nd June, 2019 with a view to curb illicit activities in various notorious areas identified countrywide.
