The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) says it has arrested four people in Central Province including three professed cadres of a named political party and one Lusaka based businesswoman for trafficking in Cannabis weighing 133.69 Kilograms.
DEC Deputy Public Relations Officer Mwenge Mulenga identified the suspects as Harriet Mwape, 51, a businesswoman of John Laing Compound in Lusaka and three other cadres of which two females are also peasant farmers in Serenje district of Central Province Identified as Beatrice Mofya, 51, and Jacqueline Mofya, 20, while the man has been identified as Honest Chintu, aged 30 of Nakalengule village in Chitambo District of Central Province.
“DEC officers intercepted and apprehended Harriet Mwape who was about to transport to Lusaka the contraband which had 63.17 kilograms of loose cannabis concealed in 50kilogram sack bags of fresh potatoes,” Mr Mulenga stated.
He added that after interrogation, Harriet later led the officers to Beatrice Mofya, who concealed 43.29 kilograms of loose cannabis in two polythene sacks containing fresh potatoes and Jacqueline Mofya, who concealed 15.81 kilograms of loose cannabis in a 50Kg polythene sack containing dry cassava.
Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga said 30-year-old Honest Chintu was picked after a tip-off from members of the public that he was exchanging second-hand clothes (salaula) clothes in a batter system with loose cannabis in Nakalengule village of Chitambo District in Central Province.
“The suspect who was found with 11.42 kilograms of loose cannabis further confirmed ownership of the abandoned cannabis that was picked up by officers in 2018 and 2019,” Mr Mulenga said.
He added that all the four suspects are in police custody and are expected to appear in court soon.