A 'notorious' Tanzanian drug-trafficking kingpin has been arrested in Zambia during a raid, the Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has announced.
Ahmed Muharram was among several suspects detained in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, along with large quantities of marijuana and cough syrup containing codeine in several drug busts on Tuesday, authorities said.
'The suspect is a known transnational drug trafficker,' the DEC said, adding that the 40-year-old had long been on the anti-drug agency's watch-list. The arrest of Muharram, who has not yet commented, was made possible thanks to a series of intelligence-led operations, the agency said.
Under Zambian law, marijuana is classified as a dangerous drug and is illegal to possess. The trafficking, possession, and use of illegal drugs such as cannabis are punishable by a fine or a prison sentence. The southern African country struggles with drug abuse and trafficking, especially cannabis and heroin.
During Tuesday's operations, the DEC seized 221.2kg of cannabis hidden in a lorry in Lusaka's Lilayi area. The search extended to Muharram's residence in Lilayi, where officers discovered an additional 1,159.6kg of 'high-grade' cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 1,380.8kg, the agency added.
A Zambian national who was also arrested is believed to be an accomplice in the organised drug-trafficking scheme. The DEC indicated their operations also led to the arrests of a Zambian national for trafficking codeine-laced cough syrup and two other Zambians for trafficking cannabis. Additionally, two Burundian nationals were apprehended for separately trafficking cannabis in different vehicles.
'All suspects have since been detained in lawful custody and will appear in court soon,' DEC said, asserting their commitment to ensuring that Zambia is neither used as a corridor nor a destination for drug trafficking.
Ahmed Muharram was among several suspects detained in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, along with large quantities of marijuana and cough syrup containing codeine in several drug busts on Tuesday, authorities said.
'The suspect is a known transnational drug trafficker,' the DEC said, adding that the 40-year-old had long been on the anti-drug agency's watch-list. The arrest of Muharram, who has not yet commented, was made possible thanks to a series of intelligence-led operations, the agency said.
Under Zambian law, marijuana is classified as a dangerous drug and is illegal to possess. The trafficking, possession, and use of illegal drugs such as cannabis are punishable by a fine or a prison sentence. The southern African country struggles with drug abuse and trafficking, especially cannabis and heroin.
During Tuesday's operations, the DEC seized 221.2kg of cannabis hidden in a lorry in Lusaka's Lilayi area. The search extended to Muharram's residence in Lilayi, where officers discovered an additional 1,159.6kg of 'high-grade' cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 1,380.8kg, the agency added.
A Zambian national who was also arrested is believed to be an accomplice in the organised drug-trafficking scheme. The DEC indicated their operations also led to the arrests of a Zambian national for trafficking codeine-laced cough syrup and two other Zambians for trafficking cannabis. Additionally, two Burundian nationals were apprehended for separately trafficking cannabis in different vehicles.
'All suspects have since been detained in lawful custody and will appear in court soon,' DEC said, asserting their commitment to ensuring that Zambia is neither used as a corridor nor a destination for drug trafficking.
