Man fined K1 million over 84.6 kg of cannabis in Chitipa
The Chitipa First Grade Magistrate's Court convicted 45-year-old George Mulungu of cultivating and possessing 84.6 kg of cannabis without a licence, fining him K1 million or 12 months' hard labour in default. Arrested at his Chisembe home on 17 June 2026, he pleaded leniency as a first offender; the court ordered the cannabis burned.
The Chitipa First Grade Magistrate’s Court has fined 45-year-old George
Mulungu K1 million after convicting him of cultivating and possessing 84.6
kilograms of cannabis without a licence.[1][2]Police from Chitipa Police
Station arrested Mulungu on 17 June 2026 after finding the cannabis at his
home in Chisembe Village, under Senior Chief Mwaulambya in Chitipa
District.[1][2]
In mitigation Mulungu pleaded for leniency, telling the court he was a
first-time offender.[1]State Prosecutor Robert Chawinga urged a deterrent
sentence, arguing cannabis is dangerous to users and the accused knowingly
broke the law.[1]
Magistrate Billy Ngosi agreed with the State but took the first-offender
status into account, fining Mulungu K1 million or, in default, 12 months’
imprisonment with hard labour.[1][2]The court also ordered the 84.6
kilograms of cannabis destroyed by burning.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Police in Dedza arrested 46-year-old Mayamiko Empraim on suspicion of supplying chamba to three pupils aged 13 to 15 at Kapalamula Primary School. He was in custody and expected to face a charge of possessing cannabis sativa after a school outreach programme led to the report.
Police arrested four people aged 17 to 27 during a sweeping exercise in Balaka Township on 31 October 2026 for possessing cannabis sativa without a licence. Two were found with loose cannabis and 15 twists in a plastic lid; two with loose cannabis in glass bottles and two packets of hemp rolling papers. All four, from Traditional Authority Nsamala, will appear in court.
A First Grade Magistrate's Court in Mwanza sentenced Bertha Kampeza, 40, to six years' imprisonment with hard labour for importing and possessing 118 kg of cannabis without a permit. Officers found seven sealed bags in a truck from South Africa at Mwanza Border on 31 March 2026; she pleaded guilty.
Arrested 1Cannabis 118 kgPrison 6 years' imprisonment with hard labour
A magistrate's court in Limbe, Blantyre, sentenced 19-year-old Mussa John to eight years with hard labour in June 2022 for possessing 134 kg of Indian hemp, the local name for cannabis. The High Court in Blantyre reduced the sentence to three years on 1 September 2022, after the case became the focus of nationwide protests against selective justice.
