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Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested several people and seized illicit drugs, including 170 boxes of Benylin cough syrup containing codeine, in separate operations across the country, the agency said on Monday.
Allan Tamba, Public Relations Officer at DEC, said two trucks travelling from South Africa to Zambia were found carrying 90 and 80 boxes of Benylin containing codeine during an operation in Kazungula district in Southern Province.
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The drugs were allegedly concealed in the trucks, with one consignment hidden between containers and another concealed among bags of ammonium nitrate.
Tamba said it had charged Moses Mbao, 56, a resident of Choma, with the unlawful importation of 4,320 bottles of Benylin, equivalent to 90 boxes.
A Zimbabwean national, Hebert Chibobo, 43, was also arrested and charged with unlawfully importing 3,840 bottles, or 80 boxes, of the codeine-based medicine, Tamba said.
The driver of a third truck linked to the investigation was not present during the search and has gone into hiding, prompting a manhunt, he said.
In a separate operation at Danger Hill Mine in Mpika district, Muchinga Province, the DEC and Zambia Police arrested Leonard Zulu, 28, who was allegedly supplying drugs to illegal miners and surrounding communities.
Officers recovered 90 sachets of crystal methamphetamine, 66 rocks of cocaine and three sachets of high-grade cannabis from Zulu, the DEC said. He is also facing separate theft charges.
In Chirundu district, the DEC arrested three people over the alleged trafficking of cannabis, recovering 33 balls weighing 117.1 grams, 81 sachets of high-grade cannabis weighing 199.7 grams and 910.5 grams of loose cannabis.
A 26-year-old Zimbabwean woman, Panashe Nyikadzino, was separately arrested in Chirundu over the alleged trafficking of 10 packages of high-grade cannabis.
Tamba said it had intensified surveillance and enforcement at border crossings, mining areas and other locations considered potential hubs for the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs.
He urged the public to report suspected drug trafficking and the illegal sale or diversion of controlled medicines.
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