Pubdate: Fri, 25 Apr 2003
Source: Times Of Zambia (ZA)
Copyright: 2003 Times Of Zambia.
Contact:  http://www.times.co.zm/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2871

DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION NABS MAN, 71, FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 71- year-old man 
believed to be a major supplier of cannabis in Chipata.

The commission also seized 1.7 tonnes of cannabis with a street value of K8 
million from the suspect.

DEC spokesperson Betty Mumba said yesterday it was believed the suspect was 
supplying drugs to most residents in the area.

The suspect was remanded in custody and will appear in court soon.

And in Ndola, a peasant farmer was arrested for trafficking in 800 kg of 
fresh cannabis.

The suspect, aged 56, of Lufwanyama was found with drugs with a street 
value of K6 million and will appear in court in soon.

DEC also arrested another suspect for having one round of ammunition while 
18 others were arrested for drug-related offences during the Easter Holiday.

Most of the drugs recovered were cannabis and cannabis seed.

Meanwhile, prisoners at Kamfinsa Prisons have urged the Drug Enforcement 
Commission (DEC) to effect a salary for ex-drug convicts.

Speaking when the steering committee of the prison drug education and 
sensitisation team toured the prisons yesterday, the prisoners said the DEC 
should effect a salary for the ex-convicts that depended on the drugs as a 
source of income.

The inmates wondered what measures DEC would put in place to deter them 
from dealing in drugs as it was a source of income for them and their families.

They admitted that they were aware of the dangers of the drugs but some of 
them depended on them for there livelihood.

They urged the DEC to put in place a salary for them to stop selling the 
drugs once they were out of prison.

And Kitwe head of the drug demand reduction programme, Lackson Zulu said 
the prisoners were free to make suggestions because they were partners in 
making the project a success.

He said the project was aimed at reducing drug abuse among in-mates with an 
ultimate goal to reduce drug abuse in prisons.

Mr Zulu said the project which was being funded by the Swedish government 
aimed to establish drug awareness programmes in each of the prisons in 
Zambia and to rehabilitate drug abusing inmates.