SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
FOUR people have been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for allegedly trafficking in cannabis.
DEC public relations officer Theresa Katongo said t that the suspects were arrested in different places in an operation conducted countrywide.
Ms Katongo named the suspects as Situmbeko Simwitu, 37 a small-scale farmer of Liyomba village in Nalolo District who was arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 296 kilograms intercropped with tomatoes in a bid to conceal the contraband.
“Other suspects are George Chiwele, 30, a fisherman of Chandwe village in Nchelenge District who has been arrested and jointly charged with Derrick Mushili, 21, of Mutono village, David Phiri, 36, of Chandamali in Petauke District for trafficking in 201 kilogrammes of loose cannabis,” Ms Katongo said.
Ms Katongo further said the commission in the Copperbelt arrested three suspects for trafficking in miraa weighing a total of 108.8 kilogrammes.
She said the suspects were identified as Saidi Banda, 33, jointly charged with Fardosa Abdi, a female Somalian national both of Ndeke Township in Ndola for trafficking in 91.4 kilograms of miraa while Saidi Abdullahi Abdi, 26, also of Ndeke Township has been arrested for trafficking in 17.4 kilograms of miraa.
“All the suspects are in Police custody and are expected to appear in court soon,” she said.
in a related development, Ms Katongo said the commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Eastern Province in conjunction with the Zambia Police has arrested a businessman identified as David Nyirenda, 21, of House No. 3229, Chimutyulu, in Lundazi for theft by agent and money laundering involving over K142, 000.
“Particulars of the offence are that David Nyirenda on dates unknown but between 1st April, and 31st August, while engaged as an agent for a named telecommunications company did steal K142, 710 through fraudulent commissions and built three two-bedroomed flats in Chama,” she said
She however explained that the suspect was on police bond and expected to appear in court soon.
