1,260 arrested for drug offences
ABOUT 1,260 people were arrested in connection to drug related offences in the third quarter of this year, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has said.
DEC Public relations officer, Theresa Katongo, said in the third quarter of this year 1008 drug related cases were concluded from a total of 1089 investigations which resulted in 1260 arrests and 300 convictions.
Ms Katongo said a statement that the DEC handled 1389 intelligence reports out of which 1089 investigations were commenced.
She said of the total arrests recorded for drug related offences, 1171 comprised males and 89 females.
Ms Katongo said 86 juveniles were arrested comprising two females and 84 males aged between 12 and 17 years.
This, she said, showed a slight increase in the number of juveniles arrested compared to the second quarter when only 58 juveniles were arrested country-wide.
Regarding seizures, 48.61 tonnes of cannabis plants, herbs and seeds were seized compared to 8.29 tonnes in the second quarter, representing a 586.40 percentage increase while other seizures included 15.06 grams of heroin and 586 grams of cocaine.
Ms Katongo said DEC concluded investigations in 38 cases involving over K106.3 million and $1.87million for various money laundering related offences.
“From the total number of cases investigated, the formal private sector dominated with 17 cases involving K69, 784,305.00 and $1,877,425.00 followed by the public sector with 12 cases involving K30, 548,666.14.
“The other seven cases were for individuals in the informal sector involving a total of K6, 034,484.37,” she said.
She also announced that DEC arrested 10 males who include one male juvenile for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to K42, 000 and $ 20,800
Meanwhile, Ms Katongo said five convictions were recorded in cases under the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit during the quarter under review from the seven concluded cases in court with one acquittal and one discontinued case.
She said DEC further conducted nine money laundering awareness activities countrywide in which 182 persons were sensitized.