16/01/2025
DEC ARRESTS CHINESE, CONGOLESE AND BURUNDIAN NATIONALS FOR VARIOUS ORGANISED CRIMES
The Drug Enforcement Commission has formally charged and arrested six (06) Chinese, one (01) Congolese and one (01) Burundian national in separate operations conducted in Lusaka.
In the first matter, the Commission has jointly charged and arrested four (04) male Chinese nationals for Operating a Casino without lawful authority, pursuant to Section 3, Sub - Section 7 (a) (b) of Cap 157 of the Laws of Zambia. Further, one of the four Chinese nationals has been jointly charged with another female Chinese national for production and possession of pornographic materials with the sixth also facing similar charges, pursuant to Sections 56 and 59 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia. Those arrested include Li Shilin, male aged 25 years, Yaun Hang, male aged 24 years, Zheng Jingke, female aged 25 years, Hou Chaowen, male aged 25 years, Yuan Menghan, Female aged 22 years and Liu Jipeng, male aged 22 years; all residents of Lusaka District.
Apart from them engaging in the production of pornographic content, an analysis of electronic gadgets used by the above - mentioned persons revealed that they were enticing members of the public to join a Computer - based Gaming Scheme where they were required to make deposits of money for services. For people to join the Scheme, perpetrators would make promises of impressive winnings. Unfortunately, unsuspecting victims would eventually get blocked from the Gaming System; leading to the loss of their hard-earned money. Evidence was deciphered showing messages from victims who did not receive the promised rewards.
In another separate operation commenced in Chirundu District and concluded in Lusaka, the Commission has jointly charged and arrested Nkurunziza Fridolire, male aged 25 years, a Mechanic of Burundian origin resident in John Laing area and Uwizeye Desire, male aged 31 years, a Congolese national resident in Makeni in Lusaka District. The two have been jointly charged and arrested for the offence of trafficking in 80 prepacks of compressed high -grade Cannabis weighing 86 Kilogrammes. In connection with the case, the Commission has also seized a motor vehicle being; a Toyota Ractis bearing Registration Number BBD6730. The vehicle is reasonably believed to be an instrumentality of crime, as part of the drugs were being ferried using the same.
All the suspects are detained in lawful custody awaiting Court appearances.
Meanwhile, the State recorded a Conviction in the matter involving Nsoni Mpulamakasa, a Lusaka based Scientist and Proprietor of Nature by Nature DNA Laboratory and Legal by Nature; together with Musenge Ng’ambi. Facts of the matter are that, acting upon reasonable suspicion that the above-mentioned persons were conducting activities suspected to be in contravention of the law, the Commission undertook a fact-finding investigation at the stated Laboratory and inside a dwelling house in Kabwata Site and Service. The investigation led to the discovery of 111 grammes of Cannabis whose Delta-9- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content was above the prescribed 0.03% threshold. Evidence indicated that Nsoni and his co-accused were conducting tests on the said drugs without Lawful Authority. Based on the findings, the pair were subsequently charged and arrested for the offence of Trafficking in Psychotropic Substances pursuant to Section 15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act Number 35 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.
When the matter came up before Court, Nsoni Mpulamakasa was found guilty and subsequently sentenced to 15 Months Imprisonment with Hard Labour. However, his co-accused, Musenge Ng’ambi was acquitted.
The Commission wishes to thank alert members of the general public for reporting suspicious activities. We further call upon all citizens to continue reporting suspected illegal activities to the Commission so that together, we can prevent, detect and combat crimes.
Issued by:
Allan Tamba
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission
