Two Indians, one Lebanese arrested over illegal importation of medicines into Zambia

Three foreign nationals have been apprehended at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for allegedly importing unregistered medicines into Zambia without the required permits, the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has said.

ZAMRA Senior Public Relations Officer, Ludovic Katontoka Mwape, identified the suspects as two Indian nationals, Sarfaraz Abdul Samad, 28, and Nadim Umarji Patel, 31, and a Lebanese national, Abou Khaijl Hamze, 36.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Mwape said the suspects were intercepted at about 01:00 hours on November 6, 2026, upon arrival aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

He said ZAMRA inspectors discovered several packages containing unregistered medicines in the suspects’ luggage during routine regulatory inspections at the airport.

“The individuals failed to produce valid import permits issued by the Authority, contrary to Section 35(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 of the Laws of Zambia,” Mwape said.

He said the medicines had since been seized, while the suspects remained in lawful custody as they assisted ZAMRA and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) with investigations.

Mwape said the importation of medicines and allied substances into Zambia was subject to strict regulatory controls to ensure that products entering the market met the required standards of safety, quality and efficacy.

He said appropriate charges would be preferred in accordance with the law, subject to the outcome of the investigations.

“The protection of public health remains our foremost priority,” Mwape said.

He urged members of the public, commercial importers and international travellers to ensure that they complied with regulatory requirements, including obtaining the necessary import permits before bringing medicines and allied substances into Zambia.

Mwape said ZAMRA remained committed to strengthening regulatory surveillance and enforcement at all points of entry and across the pharmaceutical supply chain.

“ZAMRA will continue working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to detect, prevent and deter illegal importation, distribution and sale of unregistered medicines,” he said.

He added that the controls were intended to protect the public from potential exposure to substandard, falsified, unsafe or otherwise unregulated medical products.

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