Samfya man gets 4 months for trafficking in marijuana
By Staff Reporter
Samfya Subordinate Court has convicted a 19 year old man to four months custodial imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking in marijuana.
Before Magistrate Fabian Likulunga was Paul Kabwe of Mwenge village in Chief Chitembo’s chiefdom in Chifunabuli district in Luapula Province for trafficking in psychotropic substances, contrary to section 6 of the narcotic drugs Chapter 96 of the laws of Zambia.
Kabwe was arrested by Samfya district Drug Enforcement Commissioner (DEC) Officers on June 14, 2019 during an operation that took place in Chifunabuli.
Facts before the court were that on June 14, 2019 DEC officers received information that Kabwe was smoking and selling marijuana.
DEC officers then went to Chifunabuli, where Kabwe was identified and a search was constituted and 18.4 grams of vegetable leaves suspected to be marijuana were found in his pocket and was apprehended and taken to Samfya police station.
Preliminary tests were conducted and the results confirmed the substance to be marijuana, a herbal product of cannabis delta nine.
In mitigation Kabwe pleaded for lenience saying he was a family man who is taking care of his mother and that he regretted his actions.
In passing judgment, Magistrate Likulunga said he was lenient on the accused by sentencing him to four months imprisonment with hard labour when the offence in question carries the maximum of 10 to 15 years for the first offender.
