By Staff writer
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested and jointly charged three Zambians and five Nigerians for being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime involving more USD 4.3 million.
DEC public relations officer Mathias Kamanga said Commission arrested Lewis Chisenga, a male aged 44 of Plot 7 Twin Palm Crest Ibex , Salome Towela Chirwa, a female aged 26 of Chalala Rock View and Kamikazi Ruki Chirwa, a female aged 34 of Plot 1/190097/m Kabangwe.
He said others arrested are Patrick Ezealah Onyeka, a male aged 36 of house No. 13 Lagos Nigeria, Eziah Iheanacho, a male aged 44, Margaret Oyewole, a Female aged 35 of 34 Olayemu Street Lagos Nigeria, Jeffrey Micheals, a male aged 53 of 21 Udi Street Moyi Lagos and Theresa Chioma Ezeh, a female aged 37 of 163 Broad Street Marina Lagos.
Mr Kamanga said the suspects have been arrested for giving false information to a public officer contrary to Section 125 (a) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and Possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of proceeds of Crime Act 19 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said details of the matter are that Chisenga, Chirwa, and Salome jointly and whilst acting together with , Ezealah, Chioma, Micheals, Iheanacho, Oyewole and other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between 1st January 2020 and 30th March 2022, willfully, dishonestly and with intent to defraud, gave false information to the public officer at Pacra when registering companies.
He named the companies registered as following Sephora Logistics Ltd, Borrassus Spring Ltd, Coralstone Investment Ltd, Leadster Express Ltd, Ordentage Trading Zuvemplore Energy Services, WH Energy and Allied Services Ltd, Vige Logistics Ltd, Swift Payment Limited, Avalon Logistics and Absolute Logistics Ltd.
Mr Kamanga said during registration the suspects indicated that the said companies would be trading in transportation support services, Management Consultancy activities, non-specialized wholesale trade, electric power generation, scientific and technical activities and freight transport by road here in Zambia when in fact not.
“The said companies were registered here in Zambia and opened banked accounts at a named bank, which were being used to receive and transfer funds suspected to have been fraudulently obtained,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said the suspects were further found in possession of properties and funds in their companies’ bank accounts being USD 4,361,432.1 EURO 32,917.62 GBP 37,447.11 and ZMW 32,428.72 which has since been seized by the Commission as it is reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
He said all the eight suspects were released on police bond and will appear in court soon.
