Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission arrested 40-year-old Tanzanian national Ahmed Muharram in a raid in Lusaka, describing him as a notorious transnational drug trafficker long on its watch-list.[1][2][3] Officers also arrested 49-year-old Zambian national Lishomwa Muyunda as Muharram’s suspected accomplice in the organised trafficking scheme.[4] In the same coordinated operations, officers arrested two other Zambians for trafficking cannabis concealed in a vehicle in Lusaka.[1][3] Officers arrested two Burundian nationals in Chirundu district for trafficking cannabis in separate vehicles, with some hidden in a spare lorry tyre and gas compressors and more mixed with sugar, salt and paint in tins and buckets.[1][3] All seven suspects were detained in lawful custody to appear in court soon.[1][3]

Officers first intercepted a lorry in Lusaka’s Lilayi area and seized 221.2 kg of cannabis hidden in the vehicle.[1][3] A follow-up search of Muharram’s Lilayi residence found another 1,159.6 kg of high-grade cannabis, bringing the total seizure linked to him to 1,380.8 kg.[1][2][3] Officers also seized a Toyota Prado suspected to have been used in the offences.[4] In the same sweep, officers arrested a Lusaka man for allegedly trafficking 55 boxes of Benylin with codeine, a non-cannabis seizure mentioned here only to explain the operation.[4][3]

Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority said Muharram had fled to Zambia in 2023 after several associates were arrested in Tanzania and was tracked through joint intelligence sharing with Zambia.[5] Under Zambian law, marijuana is classed as a dangerous drug that is illegal to possess, with trafficking punishable by a fine or prison sentence.[1][3]