Khadija Mingel, a 36-year-old businesswoman from Kitwe, has appeared at the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court where her trial for alleged drug trafficking has commenced.
Mingel was arrested six months ago by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) after being found in possession of 25 pellets of cocaine weighing 500 grammes. At the time, the DEC stated that Mingel had been on the commission’s watch list for some time and was believed to be a notorious drug supplier operating in the North-Western and Copperbelt provinces.
According to the DEC, the drugs were discovered in a Toyota Mark X vehicle that Mingel was driving at the time of her arrest.
The case, which was initially before the Kitwe courts, has since been transferred to the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court, where trial proceedings have begun.
On arrival at court, the accused was seen covering her head with a black cloth and was accompanied by her lawyers under tight security.
-Zambia Daily Mail