A 28 year-old Zambian man has been sentenced to seven years Imprisonment in Ethiopia for trafficking in narc0tic drugs.
Maliki Christopher Phiri of Lusaka was sentenced on 2 August 2023 for being in possession of 1 kg of C0caine, which was concealed in the pairs of shoes he was carrying in his bag.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rose Sakala confirmed development, revealing that, Maliki was arrested on 20th June 2022 at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while in transit to India.
Mrs Sakala discloses that, Maliki was given the bag containing drugs by a Nigerian national resident in Zambia at an unidentified Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for onward delivery to India.
The Ambassador also disclosed that when Maliki appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking but maintained that he could not recognize the gentleman who handed him the said drugs.
This is according to a statement issued to Mafken FM radio by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at Zambias Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Inutu Mupango Mwanza.