Chinese woman resists custody after drug sentence in Lusaka

A tense moment unfolded at the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court on Friday when a Chinese woman resisted being taken to the holding cells after she and her husband were sentenced to one year in prison for trafficking in drugs.

Kexia Zheng, 32, and his wife Chenjiang Chen, 36, both unemployed and residents of Lilayi, pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin and methamphetamine, claiming the drugs were for personal use.

The couple appeared before Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya on July 3, 2025, and admitted to the two charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021.

According to court records, the two were arrested on June 24, 2025, after being found in possession of 0.96 grams of heroin and 1.49 grams of methamphetamine without lawful authority.

In the first count, involving heroin, Zheng told the court, “I was found with heroin. My friend bought it for me to smoke,” while Chen also confessed, saying, “It was for smoking.” They gave similar responses in the second count relating to methamphetamine.

During mitigation, Zheng pleaded for leniency, saying he was a first-time offender with children to care for. “I never knew what the Zambian law says about drug trafficking. I am sorry,” he said. Chen, also remorseful, promised to seek help and avoid drugs in the future. “I have four children who will suffer if I am jailed,” she said.

In delivering judgment, Magistrate Mwenya said she had considered the couple’s status as first offenders and their early admission of guilt.

She sentenced Zheng to one year imprisonment with hard labour on both counts and Chen to one year of simple imprisonment on both counts. The sentences will run concurrently from the date of their arrest, meaning the couple will serve one year each.

The court informed the convicts of their right to appeal the sentence. However, as proceedings concluded, Chen refused to be led to the cells, prompting officers to intervene.

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