• The six suspects have been jointly charged for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to US $ 1, 031,200.
• The contraband is part of the US$ 2 million in fake notes suspected to have been smuggled into the country.
• The suspects were picked up in a special operation conducted in Kitwe.
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested six members of a Copperbelt organised criminal gang believed to be responsible for circulating counterfeit notes amounting to over US$ 1 million.
Commission Public Relations Officer Hussein Khan disclosed in a statement that those arrested include Twizzy Himaantu 53, a police officer, Juliet Tembo 53, a local court magistrate, Alex Kwibisa 49, a miner, David Kalumbu 54, a farmer, Fredrick Chilando 36, a driver and Edwin Mando, 32 also a driver.
Mr. Khan said the six suspects have been jointly charged for being in possession of counterfeit notes contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
“The six have been jointly charged for Possession of Counterfeit Notes amounting to US$1, 031,200 contrary to section 358 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.”
“This contraband is part of the US$2 million in counterfeit notes suspected to have been smuggled into the country by this organised criminal network,” Mr. Khan said.
He stated that the suspects were picked up in a special operation conducted in Kitwe which also led to the seizure of a Toyota Spacio and they are detained in custody and are scheduled to appear in court soon.
“The Commission is concerned with the high levels of counterfeits in circulation and in this regard, it is calling on members of the public to be wary and not transact in foreign currency on the streets,” he added.
