The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Eastern Province has arrested former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s driver and security personnel, Juvensio Mathews Phiri, for trafficking in 55.6 Kg of loose cannabis.
In a statement, DEC Public Relations Officer Mwenge Mulenga, Phiri, 53, was picked up in Chelstone by a combined team of officers from Eastern and Lusaka Provinces that trailed him from Chipata, where he was ferrying the contraband meant to be supplied in Lusaka.
Mr Mulenga said Phiri is believed to be working with other people who fled with him when he was first intercepted in the eastern Province.
He added that Phiri is in lawful police custody and has been charged with trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 15 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 35 of 2021.
Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga said the Commission in Southern Province has arrested and jointly charged three individuals for trafficking 29 boxes of 100mil bottles of benylin with codeine with a total quantity of 1,392 bottles.
He said the trio was in route to Lusaka from South Africa and was intercepted at Kazungula One Stop Boarder post.
The trio has been identified as Stella Mulala, a female aged 42, who is a business lady of Kabangwe area in Lusaka, Edina Muwezwa, a female aged 42, who is a farmer of Lusaka West area, and Siphelani Marumahoko, a male aged 42, who is a Zimbabwean truck driver.