Two foreign nationals were successfully arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka.
currency smuggling
The action was carefully planned and executed. One American and one Russian suspect were found with large amounts of Malawian Kwacha hidden in eight (8) wooden boxes.
The money was in stacks of 20s, 50s, 100s, 200s, 500s, 1000s, 2000s, and 5000s that were all paid for together. Undercover goods were supposed to be taken from Zambia to the USA by a specific airline.
Discovery
After the shipment’s boxes were checked by officers from the DEC, the Immigration Department, and the Bank of Zambia, Malawian Kwacha worth MK 42,184,000.00 was hidden in eight boxes, and other notes were hidden in one suitcase and one small bag.
Later, the search was expanded to include a named hotel in Lusaka where the suspects had been staying. The following currencies were found and taken away to help with the current investigations:
other currency
There are 24,300 coins and 102,600 Maloti (money from the Kingdom of Lesotho).
*About 243,050.00 Emalangeni (SZL) and 59,900 coins. This is money from the Kingdom of Eswatini.
* 33,883 US dollars * 200 British pounds
The value of these items is: * ₺820.00 in Turkish Lira * 6,000.00 in Zimbabwean Zig * 30 BAM in Convertible Mark
*Franc de la Congo 7 of
Among the other things that were taken were: * A Toyota Hilux with the license plate number BBC 8613
** Two (2) iPads ** Two (2) iPhones ** Different kinds of papers ** One (1) US passport and three (3) Russian passports
The DEC is still looking into what happened to the suspects and what charges will be brought against them. It was very helpful for this effort that the DEC, the Immigration Department, and the Bank of Zambia worked together.
These operations make it clear to people who try to use Zambia as a transit country for illegal activities that the DEC and its partners will not give up on their mission to protect our country’s dignity and ensure justice is done.
Everyone should take this as a warning that Zambia is watching and that people who try to break our rules will be punished.
sent in by
Drug Enforcement Administration Public Relations Officer Allan Tamba
