SECURITY wings in the country have recovered seven motor vehicles reported as stolen in South Africa and arrested 92 people for various in an operation conducted between Monday and Wednesday last week.
The operation done by the Zambia Police Service in conjunction with other Law enforcement officers from different departments is being called ‘Operation Usalama VIII.’
Operation Usalama VIII’ series began in 2013 as a result of a resolution made by the Police Chiefs from Southern and Eastern Africa regions to tackle security threats posed by Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) and the need for enhanced regional cooperation
The joint operation targeted suspected Human Traffickers, Drug Traffickers, Illegal Car Dealers, suspected Gangs and crime prone areas, amongst others.
Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba said the operation is done in all Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states affiliated with the International Police (INTERPOL) and is done simultaneously.
He said the operation was carried out in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt provinces respectively and that the department of Immigration, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), forestry department, Cycorp Limited and the Zambia Revenue Authority took part in the operation.
“The operation resulted in the Seizure and arrest of the following, six trucks were seized along Mwembeshi Road Western Route of Lusaka loaded with 50 kg bags of charcoal without a forest permit and five suspects were arrested while one ran away, Seven suspected stolen Motor Vehicles were recovered during the operation and impounded after a search on the INTERPOL Database revealed that the vehicles were reported stolen in South Africa,” he said.
Mr Kajoba said among the recovered vehicles were a Land Rover, three Ford Rangers and three Toyota Hilux’s all impounded from Kitwe.
He said also that a 26-year-old woman from Lusaka was arrested for being found in possession of explosives and a 44-year-old man also of Lusaka was found in possession of copper ore.
Mr Kajoba said also arrested was Daniel Daka after being found with a truck loaded with 193 pieces of rose wood timber intercepted on its way to Lusaka from Western province, arrested Petronela Namoomba who was found with 18 pieces of assorted game meat and also Pater Moyo, Chimunya Chilopya, Reagan Chimbabwa and John Munyama were arrested for being in possession of two dead pangolins.
“A joint operation team also seized 405 bottles of Codeine, 1kg high-grade Cannabis and 4 bundles of Miraa estimated at K80,000 , K15,000, and K975 in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces respectively.On September, 20th, 2022, the joint operation team in Lusaka seized 43 bottles of assorted Alcoholic Beverages from a named Chinese shop in Lusaka packed in 23 different cases, the team also seized 256 x 10 blocks of Cigarettes called “Buzzozo” with an estimated value of K35, 000 from Joseph Phiri in Lusaka for tax evasion,” he said.
He added that a total of 67 Illegal Immigrants were apprehended during the operation and have since been detained who are 27 Tanzanians, eight Congolese, five Burundians, three Malawians, four Zimbabweans, One Somalian and 18 others whose nationalities are yet to be established.
(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 27th September, 2022)