Over 1 tonne of liamba seized in Kiwaba-Nzoji; 2 held
Police in Kiwaba-Nzoji, Malanje, seized about 1,300 kg of liamba concealed in cassava-flour sacks in a truck bound for Luanda and detained two people. The SIC took custody of the suspects and was preparing the criminal case for court.
Municipal police in Kiwaba-Nzoji detained two people after intercepting a
vehicle carrying cannabis.[1]The two detainees were placed in the custody of
the Serviço de Investigação Criminal (SIC), Angola’s criminal-investigation
service, which was preparing the criminal case for presentation in court.[1]The driver was identified as Cristiano Ndaluar, accused of illegal transport and
possession of narcotics.[1]Ndaluar said he did not know what was inside the
sacks, saying they looked like the bombó cassava-flour sacks he usually carried
and that checkpoint searches had never found anything before.[1]
The load, described as more than one tonne, was hidden in 25-kg bombó sacks in a
truck bound for sale in Luanda.[1]Kiwaba-Nzoji municipal commander
Subinspector André Manuel said a residents’ tip led officers to intercept the
vehicle.[1]Police called it the largest drug seizure in Malanje province
since the start of 2020.[1]
Liamba is the local name for cannabis sativa.[1]Authorities describe Cahombo
municipality in northeastern Malanje as part of a corridor of localities with
high levels of liamba production.[1]
The articles give only July 2020 for the seizure, not a separate day, so 13 July 2020 is the earlier publication date and is used as the incident date.
VOA Português describes more than one tonne while Nova Gazeta specifies 1,300 kilograms; the report uses 1,300 kilograms as the precise compatible figure.
No court outcome was reported; the SIC was still preparing the criminal case for presentation in court.
No valuation of the seized cannabis was published.
The second VOA image showing commander André Manuel is a portrait of an official and is not listed as event media.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Nova Gazeta: Officers seized 1,300 kilograms of liamba concealed in bombó sacks in the vehicle.
Angola's National Police seized 169 kilograms of cannabis sativa, known as liamba, during crime-prevention operations across Luanda province from 6 to 8 November 2026. Officers also took two firearms, an AKM magazine with ammunition and a machete, and no arrests were reported.
Angola's Criminal Investigation Service stopped three men with 3,547.5 kg of liamba in 176 sacks near Mulondo, Cambundi Catembo, on 15 February 2026. The drug was bound for Luanda; the SIC estimated the load could sell for more than 14 million kwanzas.
Angola's Criminal Investigation Service detained three people in Bairro Vimbalambi, Catumbela, after finding liamba buried in a residence's yard on 12 February 2026. The SIC described the three, aged 34 to 48, as the alleged owners of the drug and said inquiries into other sales and storage points were continuing.
Angola's Criminal Investigation Service burned 50,000 kg of liamba and more than 210 kg of cocaine seized in 2022 operations during coordinated incinerations in the week of 24 November 2022. The Bengo leg alone accounted for more than 33,000 kg of liamba, with smaller cannabis burns recorded in Namibe, Cunene and Huíla.
