Zambia (Ndola): The Ndola Magistrate on the Copperbelt has jailed two suspected smugglers after being found guilty of the offence on Wednesday.
Joseph Mwamba, 33, of 160 Chililabombwe, and Timothy Mulenga, 31, also from Chililabombwe, were arrested in Ndola’s Lubuto West as they turned their lodge rooms into storage facilities starking Mealie meals with the intent to smuggle to the DRC.
Over 700 bags of Jambo milling of 25 Breakfasts were pilled in separate rooms at a named lodge in Lubuto, prompting the whistleblowers to tip the law enforcers.
Zambia National Service Deputy Chief of Operations, Col Chimuka Mukuwa, led the combined operation with Zambia Police in Ndola and unearthed the said mealie meal. The dual were then taken to the police and later to court.
The charges were read to them upon taking a plea before Judge Banda (not real name), and the dual pleaded guilty and admitted they were smugglers and the commodity was intended for smuggling to the DRC Congo.
Judge Banda heard their plea and apologised. He sent them to 18 months each with hard labour. The case was compounded with other counts, such as assaulting the police officer on duty and, resisting arrest and possession of illegal documents and weapons, among other things.
Zambia National Service is currently conducting anti-smuggling operations in Copperbelt in 4 districts, namely Ndola, Mufulira, Chililabombwe and Masaiti, because of their geographical nature as they are places where rampant smuggling is taking place.
Residents of Ndola, Zambia, are happy with the decision of the judge and government. One of the locals said We are so glad that finally, these smugglers were sent to jail.
“Finally, we get some of these smugglers sent to prison. Hopefully, this will serve as a deterrent to would-be smugglers,” said the local.
However, some residents don’t consider this a crime as they believe this is a normal activity for the politicians, but when they do, it’s normal, and when any poor man does, it’s an offence.
: The Ndola Magistrate on the Copperbelt has jailed two suspected smugglers after being found guilty of the offence){kind=link}