Magistrate hands down 12 months jail terms to four convicts in Kamanga drug bust

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced four men to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour after convicting them of trafficking in cannabis in Kamanga compound.

Evans Banda, Gift Lungu, Haggai Luboya and Alex Mumba pleaded guilty to trafficking in psychotropic substances, an offence contrary to Section 15(1)(2) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021, as read with Statutory Instrument No. 119 of 1995.

According to the statement of facts, officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) received information on September 16, 2025, indicating that unknown individuals were dealing in illegal drugs in Kamanga compound.

A team of officers was assembled and dispatched to the area, where they targeted an unfinished building identified by an informer. Upon arrival, they found the four accused men seated inside.

When the officers identified themselves, the men attempted to flee but were apprehended. A search of the premises led to the discovery of a black shoulder bag containing 10 sachets of suspected cannabis.

The suspects were detained, and the seized substances were later submitted to the Food and Drugs Control Laboratory for analysis.

A public analyst confirmed that the substance was cannabis weighing 20 grams, with a THC level exceeding the legal limit of 0.3 percent.

DEC officer Margaret Mwachipata interviewed the accused, who were subsequently charged and arrested.

In warn-and-caution statements administered in Nyanja, they voluntarily admitted committing the offence.

The prosecution submitted that the accused had no lawful authority to traffic in the substances.

The seized drugs, analyst report and other documentation were produced in court as exhibits.

In sentencing the four, Principal Resident Magistrate Idah Phiri said custodial punishment was necessary to deter drug trafficking and protect the public.

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