The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested over 80 people countrywide for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in cannabis.
DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said in a statement issued to ZANIS in Ndola today that those arrested are from Luapula, Central and Eastern provinces respectively.
Ms. Katongo said the people that have been arrested include Bayoni Mumba 43, a small scale farmer of Mwansa village in Mansa district of Luapula province for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 1.121 tonnes.
She said others arrested are Maybin Kafunda 48 and Mwansa Mailoni 41, both of Edeni village in Milenge district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 371.89kg and 306.79kg respectively.
She further said Patrick Mbewe 35, a small scale farmer of Mulanda village in Kapiri Mposhi district was also arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 750kg.
Ms. Katongo also said Aaron Mucheleka 45, of Zoi village in Lundazi district is another person who was arrested for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 835kg and trafficking in 18kg of loose cannabis.
She added that also arrested was Aaron’s brother Alison, 51, of the same abode for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 45kg.
She stated that all the suspects will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, a truck driver in Eastern province has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with labour for drug trafficking.
Ms. Katongo said Aston Phiri, 38, a truck driver of Kalungzha village in Petauke district was convicted and sentenced to five years with hard labour on the first count of trafficking in 350.8kg of cannabis and two years on the second count for unlawful use of property.
The sentences will run consecutively with effect from April 15, 2016.
Where is the Green Party to issue a statement on this one?
Eeeeee little Mexico/Columbia!
Instead of exporting this cash crop we are arresting people…the selfsame slave masters who told it was unhealthy and additive when it wasn’t are legalizing it and making millions of dollars.
No arrests from Muchinga?
SINKAMBA WISDOM – The total tonnage is 2.327.8o tons. DEC what is the value of this contraband?
I think Green party President – Mr Peter Sinkamba has done a research that if the state could do as well, the country could come up with a solution on how Zambia could start earning forex. The country should cease living in denial. Zambia is a full time cultivator of cannabis. You see look at the catholic today, in the recent past the Pope as I read on the internet has just come to terms of recognizing cohabiting ? I just read but that is something that can be verified. Its better to understand that there is a problem and how do you deal with the problem. So DEC take it up and see how best you can deal with cannabis issue. Denial is not helping us to solve the problem. 2 tons is a lot. This…