KEY POINTS

• Over five tonnes of farming inputs repackaged for smuggling.
• Bags of inputs and motor vehicles seized during an operation.
• Head Teacher and a school Accounts Assistant also arrested for Money laundering.

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has unearthed a scam in which some unscrupulous people repackaged over five tonnes of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) into other bags with intentions to smuggle to neighbouring countries.
DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo revealed to Money FM News that the scam was unearthed following an operation the Commission conducted in Senama and Kasasa Compound of Mansa District where 10 x 50kg bags of Compound D Fertiliser weighing 500kg, 79 x 60Kg bags of Groundnuts Seeds weighing 4.94 tonnes and 9 x 60Kg bags of Soya beans Seeds weighing 610kg were seized.
Ms. Katongo said the Commission is part of the Task Force to control goods, import and export of agriculture inputs as stipulated in Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2019.
“Further, the Commission seized two motor vehicles including a light truck of Registration Number ASB 2451 and a Toyota Allion Registration Number BAP 6692 which were found at the scene and suspected to have been used as instruments of crime,” Ms. Katongo stated.
She disclosed that preliminary investigations conducted reveal that the seized FISP agriculture inputs belong to a Zambian man identified as Agrippa Njamu of Mutende Site and Service in Mansa District, while other two men who had gone to buy the said fertilizer using a hired Toyota Allion were picked to help with investigations.
“A building at Kasasa market in Mutende site and service was identified to have been used for concealment of the said inputs and Mr Njamu had hired Jonathan Kapinga a driver of the light truck that was seized to deliver these products at the same building.”
“In the process another two other men identified as Chanda Chimba who had gone to buy the said fertilizer using a hired Toyota Allion driven by Joseph Chiwala were picked to help with investigations,” she said.
Ms. Katongo stated that the three suspects have been released on Police bond and the Commission has launched a man hunt for Agrippa Njamu who is on the run.
Meanwhile, Ms. Katongo revealed that the Commission has arrested and charged a Head Teacher and a school Accounts Assistant of Kasempa Boys Secondary School in North-Western Province for theft by public servant and money laundering activities involving K27, 500 withdrawn from the school boarding account where they are both signatories.
She explained that the said account is designed for expenses relating to boarding supplements and food stuffs for the pupils.
“The two identified as Chalton Kangasa, 56, a Head Teacher of Kasempa Boys Secondary School and Willie Mulenga, 50, an Accounts Assistant of Kasempa Boys Secondary School whilst acting together made a number of withdraws amounting to K27,500.00 on the school boarding account where they are both signatories.”
“This was done under the pretext that the funds were payments for advance salary, tuition advance and settling in allowances without due regard to Ministry of General Education Financial guidelines and the Public Finance Management regulations,” she disclosed.
The DEC Public Relations Officer said the suspects are on Police bond awaiting court appearance.