Twenty people have been arrested for operating illegal pharmacies and Agro Veterinary shops, contrary to section 14 (1) of the Medicines and Allied substances Act No. 3 of 2013, while one person has been apprehended for being in possession of suspected government medicines contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia.
Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Senior Public Relations Officer Ludovic Mwape said between October 28 and November 11, 2024, the Authority, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) arrested the suspects from seven selected districts of Northwestern Province.
In a statement to RCV News in Lusaka today, Mr. Mwape said in the suspected case of pilferage, the Authority working with DEC detained Mr. Sharbani Birindwa Faustin, 39, for being in possession of suspected government medicines at Kipushi Border of Mushindano District.
“The suspect, a refugee of Congolese nationality based at Maheba Refugee Camp in Kalumbila District, was found with 1,215 x 24s of Coartem Tablets,” said Mr. Mwape.
Mr. Mwape said upon inquiry, Mr. Sharbani revealed that the medicines were given to him by an unidentified person of Solwezi District and further revealed that the consignment was given to him to find market in Congo DRC.
He said the suspect was detained at Solwezi Central Police Station pending continuation of investigations to establish the source of GRZ medicines.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwape said the twenty arrested for operating unregistered pharmacies and Agro-veterinary shops have been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.
He emphasized that the activity was aimed at curbing the increasing illegal trade in medicines and allied substances on the Zambian market stating that the outlets were mapped during the sensitization program that was conducted prior to the operation.
By Margaret Mwanza
