By Joseph Mapalo Kamanga
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers in the Southern Province have arrested three men for attempting to smuggle 150 kilograms of high-grade cannabis into the country. The large drug bust took place at the Kazungula Border Post following a successful intelligence-led operation by law enforcement.
The illicit cargo was found hidden inside a commercial truck coming from South Africa. To trick border officials, the smugglers had packed the cannabis into 10 large bales containing 141 smaller parcels and buried them underneath heavy sacks of sulphur.The suspects include the truck driver, 33-year-old Tody Siakumbila from Monze District, who is employed by a South African transport company. The other two suspects are Luka Phiri, a 25-year-old shopkeeper, and John Kabaso, a 23-year-old taxi driver, both residents of Livingstone. Officers intercepted the men at the border before the cargo could be moved.
Following the arrests, the Commission seized the transport truck as well as a Toyota Vitz. Investigators believe the car was hired by the main suspect to transport the cannabis once it was offloaded from the truck.
All three men are currently held in lawful custody while police continue their investigations and prepare for the upcoming court case. Meanwhile, the DEC has issued a strong warning to the public against participating in cross-border drug trafficking, stating that security forces are tightening surveillance and intelligence operations to break up criminal networks across Zambia.
©️Zambia Reports, 15th May 2026📸DEC