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Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested 12 people in separate intelligence-led operations in Lusaka Province and seized cannabis and cannabis-laced cakes, the agency said.
Ten people were arrested during an operation at the Summer Reggae and Afro Music Festival in Chongwe District, where officers seized cannabis weighing a combined 10.8 kilogrammes, DEC Public Relations Officer Allan Tamba said in a statement.
Tamba identified some of those arrested as Francis Habeenzu, 27, Matildah Zulu, 22, and Hellen Banda, 26.
He said the Commission was engaging organisers and hosts of the festival to prevent people from using the event to engage in illegal activities.
“Those found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the Law,” Tamba said.
In a separate operation, two female students, Blessings Kaonga and Gift Kaonga, both 20, were arrested at a boarding house in New Kasama after they were allegedly found with 26 cupcakes laced with 596 grammes of cannabis.
Tamba said the two had been on the Commission’s watch list.
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He appealed to boarding-house proprietors to report suspicious activities.
“The Commission is appealing to proprietors of Boarding Houses to take interest and report suspicious activities so that through collective action, we can prevent crime, create safer, healthier and functional communities for all,” he said.
All 12 suspects were in lawful custody awaiting court appearances, Tamba said.
“Unscrupulous persons involved in criminal syndicates are hereby warned that Zambia will neither serve as a transit corridor nor a destination hub for illicit drugs and controlled substances,” he said.
Tamba assured that the DEC remained alert and would continue working with other stakeholders to intercept, arrest and prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.
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