Heroin, Cash, Suspects Caught

Lilayi-based foreigners arrested with drugs and K8,000 in suspected crime proceeds

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 (03-07-2025) -The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has apprehended two Chinese nationals along with several Zambian individuals in a series of coordinated anti-drug operations across Lusaka and Southern provinces, recovering heroin, methamphetamines, cannabis, and suspected proceeds of crime.

In a statement issued by DEC Public Relations Officer Allan Tamba, the Commission disclosed that Kexia Zheng, 32, and Chenjiang Chen, 36, both residents of Lilayi Extension, were arrested for trafficking in 1.5 grammes of methamphetamines and 0.96 grammes of heroin. Officers also confiscated K8,000 in cash, suspected to be linked to illegal drug transactions.

The involvement of foreign nationals in drug-related offenses has once again cast a spotlight on Zambia’s regulatory gaps and growing concerns over the infiltration of transnational criminal activity in residential areas previously considered secure.

In a separate sweep, DEC officers executed an intelligence-led raid in Chibolya compound, a known hotspot for narcotics. There, they arrested Stanley Simwanza, 30, and Danny Siamoole, 29, for trafficking 1.1 grammes of cocaine. The substance was hidden in a Toyota Ractis, which was also impounded.

Elsewhere in Kafue, the Commission detained David Tembo, 31, for possessing 3.1 kilogrammes of cannabis, and Alfred Kapandela, 62, for holding 900 grammes of the same illicit substance. These arrests point to a worrying trend of drug distribution reaching deeper into rural and peri-urban communities.

In Chawama Township, Racheal Shanzi, 26, was taken into custody after being found with 16 sachets of cannabis weighing 26.15 grammes. Her arrest followed an extended surveillance operation.

Further south, in Mazabuka District, Southern Province, three individuals — Fulano Malambo, 40, Thina Malambo, 54, and Abby Hanjalika, 61 — were jointly charged for trafficking in 912.4 grammes of loose cannabis.

“All suspects are in lawful custody and will be presented before the courts of law,” Tamba confirmed.

While the DEC has stepped up its operations, public confidence remains fragile. The continued presence of drug dens in densely populated areas and the apparent ease with which narcotics are trafficked raise doubts about long-term enforcement effectiveness.

Despite the Commission's assurance of its commitment to dismantling the drug supply chain, civil society groups and concerned citizens are calling for more than just arrests — they are demanding transparency, stiffer sentencing, and a more coordinated inter-agency strategy that addresses the root causes of drug proliferation.

The arrests serve as a stark reminder that Zambia's war on drugs is far from over. Without decisive leadership, stronger border controls, and accountability from law enforcement agencies, experts warn the drug menace may only deepen, threatening not just public health but national security.