The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Eastern Province has arrested two people in Mambwe District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing seven tonnes.
The arrest is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer, Theresa Katongo.
Ms Katongo said Agnes Phiri, 47, a small-scale farmer of Mateo Village in Mambwe District, has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.9 tonnes, and Adamson Banda, 23, a small-scale farmer of Kataika Village in Mambwe District has been nabbed for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.1 tonnes.
She said the commission has also arrested a 46-year-old American in Mfuwe District for trafficking in cannabis.
Ms Katongo said Max Wallace, 46, the Managing Director of Zikomo Safaris in Mfuwe from Phoenix Arizona, USA has been arrested for trafficking in 23g of loose cannabis.
She said the suspect was also found with suspected pills of diazepam and a pistol.
Meanwhile Ms Katongo has disclosed that commission in Southern Province has arrested Kennedy Mwiinga, 51, a small-scale farmer of Chilangi Village in Mazabuka for trafficking in 42.37kg of loose cannabis and Gregory Hamusonga, 33, a small-scale farmer of Zambia Compound in Namwala for trafficking in 8.06kg of loose cannabis.
She further said in Central Province, the commission has arrested Ben Malasha, 48, a small-scale farmer of Maipeke Village in Luano for trafficking in 27.7kg of loose cannabis and Aggrey Pondala, 26, a small-scale farmer for trafficking in 12.5kg of loose cannabis.
She added that in Western Province, the commission has arrested Emeldah Liswaniso, 52, of Sikuka village in Sesheke for trafficking in 3.5Kg of cannabis.
Ms Katongo said all suspects will appear in court soon.
DEC should be transferred to ministry of agriculture.
We need green party to help with guys with good lawyers. Mpezeni must ban Dec in zambia….This is no crime…..iam rolling Swazi a grade now! I miss Malawi gold…
at least DEC trys to work by arresting these petty cannabis farmers unlike there sisiter company ACC. (AM CORRUPTED COMMISSION)
The cannabis shown in the picture is still in the fields and should therefore be referred to as ‘Fresh Cannabis grown by farmer ‘A’ or by DEC’. It can not be loose in that state. It is only confiscated if it has been uprooted from the farm and stockpiled as evidence. This is a free lesson to LT i.diots!