Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) announced the arrest of a Tanzanian national described as a “notorious” transnational drug trafficking suspect during a series of intelligence-led raids in the capital, Lusaka.
The suspect, identified as Ahmed Muharram, 40, was detained on Tuesday alongside several other individuals as authorities uncovered large quantities of cannabis and cough syrup containing codeine in multiple drug busts. The DEC said Muharram had been on the agency’s watch list for an extended period and described him as a known figure in cross-border drug trafficking networks.
According to the commission, officers initially seized 221.2 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a lorry in Lusaka’s Lilayi area. A subsequent search of the suspect’s residence in the same district led to the discovery of an additional 1,159.6 kilograms of what authorities described as high-grade cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 1,380.8 kilograms.
A Zambian national was also arrested and is believed to be an accomplice in what officials called an organized trafficking scheme. Further operations carried out the same day resulted in several additional arrests, including a Zambian suspect found transporting 55 boxes of Benylin cough syrup containing codeine, and two other Zambians accused of concealing cannabis in a private vehicle.
The DEC also reported the detention of two Burundian nationals in the southern district of Chirundu for trafficking cannabis in separate vehicles. Authorities said the drugs were hidden using various methods, including inside a spare truck tire, gas compressors, and containers mixed with sugar, salt, and paint.
“All suspects have since been detained in lawful custody and will appear in court soon,” the commission said in a statement, emphasizing its continued efforts to prevent Zambia from being used as either a transit corridor or a destination for illegal narcotics.
Under Zambian law, cannabis is classified as a dangerous drug, and its possession, use, or trafficking is punishable by fines or imprisonment. Zambia, like several countries in southern Africa, continues to face challenges related to drug abuse and cross-border trafficking, particularly involving cannabis and heroin.
