By JULIUS PHIRI –
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Chipata has impounded a truck carrying 279.5 kilogrammes of loose cannabis.
DEC public relations officer, Theresa Katongo confirmed yesterday that the drugs were intercepted on Monday around 22:00 hours.
The driver of a Nissan Atlas truck and passengers abandoned the vehicle upon seeing DEC officers along the Great East Road at Msekera turn-off.
It is believed that the truck was coming from Malawi via Mwasemphangwe.
Ms Katongo said a search had been launched for the driver and passengers.
The seizure is the second largest this year after the commission intercepted about 453 kilogrammes of the same drug from Luapula farmers.
In another development, police in Chadiza District have detained a driver for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend and dumping her in a stream.
Eastern Province deputy police commissioner Hudson Namachila said the man stabbed his girlfriend on Monday around 21:00 hours and dumped her in a stream near Zingalume Road while she was unconscious.
A screwdriver was suspected to have been used to stab the woman.
“The man later picked up the woman’s daughter and dumped her in Kavumo area, which is five kilometres from Chadiza Boma.
“The woman gained conscious and managed to crawl to the roadside where she was picked by the people who also found her baby on the way and reported the matter to the police,” Mr Namachila said.
The woman and her baby are admitted to Chadiza District Hospital.