Two Mambwe cannabis cultivators arrested

The Drug Enforcement Commission in Eastern Provinces has arrested two (02) people in Mambwe District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing seven (07) tonnes.

Commission Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo says Agnes Phiri, 47, a small-scale farmer of Mateo Village in Mambwe District has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.9 tonnes, and Adamson Banda, 23, a small-scale farmer of Kataika Village in Mambwe District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.1 tonnes.

Ms Katongo says the Commission has also arrested a 46-year-old American in Mfuwe District for trafficking in cannabis.

She says Max Demian Wallace, 46, the Managing Director of Zikomo Safaris in Mfuwe from Phoenix Arizona, USA has been arrested for trafficking in 23g of loose cannabis.

Ms Katongo adds that the suspect was also found with suspected pills of diazepam and a pistol.

Meanwhile, Commission in Southern Province has arrested Kennedy Mwiinga, 51, a small-scale farmer of Chilangi Village in Mazabuka for trafficking in 42.37kg of loose cannabis; Gregory Hamusonga, 33, a small-scale farmer of Zambia Compound in Namwala for trafficking in 8.06kg of loose cannabis.

In Central Province, the Commission has arrested Ben Malasha, 48, a small-scale farmer of maipeke Village in Luano for trafficking in 27.7kg of loose cannabis; Aggrey Pondala, 26, a small-scale farmer for trafficking in 12.5kg of loose cannabis.

And in Western Province, the Commission has arrested Emeldah Liswaniso, 52, of Sikuka village in Sesheke for trafficking in 3.5Kg of cannabis.