The Drug Enforcement Commission, DEC, has seized over 2 tons of cannabis and has apprehended a civil servant suspected of drug distribution in Chinsali district, Muchinga province, in operations conducted throughout the Easter holidays.
DEC Public Relations Officer, Mwenge Mulenga, identified the suspect as Douglas Joseph Mpange, male aged 31, of the Mulyangolo area in Chinsali and an employee of a named public institution, who was picked up for trafficking in 61 sachets of high-grade cannabis weighing 340 grams.
“The Commission has since seized, from him, a Toyota Mark 2 registration number AQB 627 and a scooter motorbike, both believed to have been acquired from the proceeds of crime,” said Mr. Mulenga in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He said on the Copperbelt Province, a combined team of DEC Officers from Ndola, Kitwe, Mufulira, and Chililabombwe conducted clean-up operations in selected districts where three individuals were arrested and jointly charged for unlawful cultivation of fresh Cannabis plants weighing 1.25 tonnes in Mpongwe District.
Mr. Mulenga said the suspects involved have been identified as Irene Namonde, female, aged 43; Mike Hamanze, male, aged 52 and Beauty Banda, female, aged 51, all of Mimbolo village in Mpongwe district.
And Mr. Mulenga said in North-Western Province, the Commission apprehended a female suspect identified as Konde Kayanda, aged 65, of Kamikolwo village of Solwezi, for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing a total of 535 Kilograms.
He also said in Luapula Province, the Commission arrested two individuals, including an unnamed juvenile, for illegal drug offences.
Mr. Mulenga said all suspects involved in the illicit drug activities have been charged and are awaiting court appearances.
By Eva Hatontola
