DEC intensifies crackdown on drug traffickers and…

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has announced a strengthened approach in the fight against drug trafficking, targeting not only suspects but also property and assets linked to illegal drug activities. DEC Director General Nason Banda said the Commission will now seize bank accounts, vehicles, trucks, houses and other valuable property used in drug trafficking and subject them to court proceedings for possible forfeiture to the State. Addressing the media, Mr Banda said the Commission will no longer focus solely on arresting suspects but will also pursue assets that facilitate or benefit from drug-related crimes.

“When we apprehend suspects, any property used in the commission of the offence will be seized and taken to court for forfeiture to the State, unless there is a satisfactory explanation of how it was acquired,” Mr Banda said. He explained that DEC’s mandate focuses on reducing both the supply and demand of drugs, adding that the Commission is committed to addressing both aspects. Mr Banda further disclosed that joint operations involving officers from Lusaka and Southern Province have already produced positive results, demonstrating the effectiveness of inter-provincial collaboration.

He identified Chifwema as one of the areas that had become a hotspot for the production of high-grade cannabis. However, he said DEC officers, using specialised training, conducted operations that led to the destruction of large cannabis fields, which he described as one of the Commission’s largest seizures to date. “When we moved into Chifwema, we destroyed large cannabis fields, which resulted in a significant shortage of cannabis on the market,” Mr Banda said. He appealed to members of the public to cooperate with the Commission in the fight against substance abuse and also called on the media to work closely with DEC to support efforts to curb drug trafficking.