By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested five people for money laundering activities involving over K5.5 million.
The commission has also arrested three people for stealing Mixed Mineral Ore weighing 13 kilograms from Kansanshi Mines.
DEC Public Relations Officer Mathias Kamanga identified the three as Thomas Kabeta 37, Derrick Mutti Wakungoli 37 and Catherine Chilekwa aged 57, all business people from Solwezi District.
“Particulars of the offence are that the trio as partners in KMC Minerals Technologies on dates unknown but between January 1st 2021 and October 4th 2021 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, did steal Mixed Minerals weighing 13 kilograms from Kansanshi Mines, the trio later hid at a plot situated in Weigh Bridge area in Solwezi District,” he said.
And Mr Kamanga said that the suspects further traded in minerals without a permit from the Ministry of Mines and received various payments amounting to over K2, 500,000 through Thomas Kabeta’s bank account held at a named bank.
“The three suspects were further found in possession of properties which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime namely a Toyota Hilux, Toyota Prado, Toyota corolla, a plot, a two by three bedroom semidetached flats, three by three bedroom houses, a farm containing 16 fish ponds, five by two room care taker houses and a guard house in Solwezi which have since been seized by the Commission,” he said.
Mr Kamanga also said that the accused have been charged for theft contrary to section 272 of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said the trio has also been charged with trading in minerals without a permit or license and possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Mr Kamanga further revealed that DEC in Lusaka has charged and jointly arrested Lawrence Zyambo, a male aged 41 of Olympia in Lusaka, and Evelyn Supaile, a female aged 37 of the same address in Lusaka for stealing about K2 8 million kwacha property of a named NGO.
