Drug pusher jailed 5 years
A 31-year-old man of Lusaka’s Kabanana compound has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour in the Lusaka Magistrates’ court for trafficking in more than 600 Kilograms of marijuana. In this case Meckson Zulu, a bricklayer, was found in possession of 11 x 50kg bags filled with marijuana at his home. Zulu was jointly charged with Edward Phiri, a farmer of Chilambila village with one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances. Zulu pleaded guilty but his co-accused, Phiri denied the charge. Particulars of the offence are that on September 8, 2018, in Lusaka, the two accused persons jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, trafficked in psychotropic substances namely 659.818 kilograms of marijuana, a herbal product of cannabis sativa, without lawful authority. Facts in respect of Zulu, are that on September 8, 2018, police officers received information that there was a man in Kabanana compound dealing in drugs. Acting on the report, they conducted a search in his house where they discovered 11 bags of loose vegetables suspected to be marijuana and 22 plastic bags also suspected of containing marijuana. The suspected drugs were taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) laboratories where they were identified as marijuana. Under warn and caution statement, Zulu gave a free and voluntary reply admitting the charge. In respect of Phiri, magistrate Sakala adjourned the matter to September 28, this year for possible commencement of trial.