THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Eastern Province has arrested former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Driver and Security Personnel, identified as Juvensio Mathews Phiri, aged 53, for trafficking in 55.6 Kg of loose cannabis.
Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer Mwenge Mulenga discloses that Phiri was picked up in Lusaka’s Chelstone area by a combined team of officers from Eastern and Lusaka Provinces that trailed him from Chipata, where he was ferrying the contraband meant to be supplied in Lusaka.
Mulenga further reveals that the suspect is believed to be working with other people who fled with him when he was first intercepted in the eastern Province.
He discloses that Phiri is in lawful police custody and has been charged with trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 15 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021.
DEC Public Relations Officer has stated that the Commission in the Southern Province has also arrested and jointly charged three individuals for trafficking 29 boxes of 100mil bottles of benylin and codeine worth 1,392 bottles.
He says the trio that was in route to Lusaka from South Africa were intercepted at Kazungula One Stop Boarder post and have been identified as Stella Mulala, aged 42, a business lady, Edina Muwezwa, aged 42, a farmer both from Lusaka and Siphelani Marumahoko, male aged 42, a Zimbabwean truck driver.
The Commission is however pleased with its continued success in legal proceedings, exemplified by the recent conviction of the former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Charity Katanga for possession of property valuing at Two Million and Thirty Thousand United States Dollars and One Million, Five Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand and Five Kwacha.
