3 PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS TRAFFICKING AND CULTIVATION

The Drug Enforcement Commission in Southern Province has arrested Gestro Singandu, a male aged 77 of Chiwangabala Village in Gwembe District for trafficking in 30 Kilograms of loose cannabis and unlawful cultivation of 1.33 tons of fresh cannabis plants.

The Commission has also arrested Kenny Sianyanga, a male aged 34 years of the same Village for trafficking in 50.2 Kilograms of loose cannabis and unlawful cultivation of 1.49 tons of fresh cannabis plants.

In a separate incident, the Commission has arrested Sarafina Siakumbi, a female aged 45 years of Siamududa Village in Gwembe District for trafficking in 35 Kilograms of loose cannabis and cultivating 2.68 tons of fresh cannabis plants.

On the Copperbelt, the Commission jointly charged and arrested Francis Chibuye, a male aged 28 years and Stephen Chipasa, a male aged 24 of Ndeke Compound in Ndola District for trafficking in 16 sachets of heroin.

The suspects appeared in court and have been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 36 months.

In a separate incident, the Commission jointly charged and arrested Bernard Kabubi, a male aged 22 and Mubanga Chakamika, a male aged 19, both students at a named college in Ndola for trafficking in 1.6 Kilograms of Loose cannabis.

The duo appeared in court and were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, and the sentence was suspended for 36 months.

The Commission wishes to call upon their Royal Highnesses to join in the fight against the cultivation of cannabis within their chiefdoms as this contributes to the availability of such drugs on the streets.

Further, we wish to implore students not to engage themselves in drug trafficking and concentrate on studies to ensure that they complete and contribute to national development.

Mathias Kamanga

Public Relations Officer

Drug Enforcement Commission