By CHARITY MOONGA –

The Drug Enforcement Commission in North-Western Province has arrested a couple for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing more than 700 kilogrammes.
DEC assistant public relations officer Chibu Tembo said in a statement yesterday that Kalombo Muchinyi, 23, a bricklayer of Chiyeke area in Chavuma District had been arrested and jointly charged with his juvenile wife, aged 17, of the same abode for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 725 kilogrammes.
Meanwhile, DEC at the weekend arrested more than fifty people countrywide for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in various quantities of cannabis.
Ms Tembo said that among those arrested and jointly charged were John Sawendele, 62, of Chiyeke area in Chavuma district who was jointly charged with Hintu Maseka, 29, a peasant farmer and Collins Sawendele, 19, both of the same area for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 11.5 kilogrammes.
She said Emmanuel Kapanda, 35, of Manyinga area in Kabompo District was arrested for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 4kg and Kennedy Sambaulu,25, of Muselepete area in Kasempa District was arrested for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 3.5kgs.
Others arrested in Namwala District include Tarick Kasanga, 20, a student of a named institute for trafficking in 26.4kg of loose cannabis, Edith Kapasa, 51, a business executive for trafficking in 11.5 kgs of loose cannabis and Grey Munsene, 64, a peasant farmer for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 3.4 kgs.
In Luapula Province, the DEC arrested Godfrey Mpundu, 46, a peasant farmer of Munduli village in Samfya district for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 13.7kgs.
Ms Tembo said that the suspects would appear in court soon.