113 suspects nabbed in Chibolya (PHOTOS)

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes

@SunZambian

A JOINT operation by the Zambia Police Service (ZP), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Department of Immigration yesterday apprehended 113 people suspected to have committed various offences in Lusaka’s Chibolya Township.

The joint operation, dubbed ‘Operation Chalo’, which began in the late hours of Friday, June 21, 2019 and lasted up early Saturday, June 22, followed public complaints about increased illegal activities in the area.

According to a joint statement by the team, Police Public Relations Officer Easter Katongo, majority of the people nabbed were for immigration related offences.

The statement, signed by Zambia Police Service spokesperson Easter Katongo, Department of Immigration spokesperson Namati Nshinka and DEC public relations officers Theresa Katongo, most of the suspects failed to produce

legal documents to prove their immigration status in Zambia at the time of the operation.

According to the statement, the operations was conducted country-wide.

“Out of the 113 persons apprehended, 53 were for immigration related offences, 33 for drug related offences, while 27 were for general crimes such as being found in possession of suspected stolen property,” read the statement in part.

“The majority of those nabbed for immigration related offences did not produce documents to prove their legal immigration status in Zambia at the time of the operation. Screening to ascertain their immigration status in Zambia continues,” part of the statement reads,” the statement indicated.

According to the statement, a significant amount of different psychotropic and other banned substances, including cannabis, suspected cocaine, Benylin codeine boxes and instruments used to administer drugs, were also seized during the operation.

“The exact weight, purity and value of the psychotropic substances will be determined following further forensic testing,” according to the statement.

“This operation is a fitting example of inter-agency collaboration in disrupting criminal activities and networks. The arrests should serve as a warning to would be offenders. They should know that our security departments will not relent in doing everything possible to maintain internal security,” read the statement.

According to a statement, “These operations and remain ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out. Further, the outcomes from operations from other parts of the country will be given once compiled.’