The Drug Enforcement Commission arrests 4 Mafinga Farmers for cultivating 13 tonnes of Cannabis

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Muchinga Province has arrested four farmers for unlawful cultivation and trafficking of cannabis, weighing over thirteen tonnes following a special operation conducted in the province.

The DEC released a statement today naming the suspects as Mulambisha Nyimbili, 35, a small scale farmer of Kaisolele village in Mafinga district who cultivated fresh cannabis plants weighing 8.4 tonnes in the first count. In the second count, he has been jointly charged with Misheck Kaira a 19-year-old, for trafficking in 54.8 Kilograms of loose cannabis. 

Other arrests included; Yakobi Nyimbili, 26, a small scale farmer for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 4.8 tones, Obvious Nyimbili, 32 and Beauty Nakanyika, 45, for trafficking in 50 and 53.5 kilograms of loose cannabis respectively. 

The suspects have been reported to be in custody and will appear in court shortly. 

The Commission in Choma have destroyed close to 400 kilograms of dry loose cannabis, cannabis plants and seeds which were seized and later forfeited to the state after disposal of court cases in line with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia. 

The DEC declared that the exercise, which was witnessed by officials of the Choma Magistrates’ Court, signifies the final stage of the drug interdiction process, dispelling various public myths and misconceptions on what happens to the drugs seized by the Commission in the field.