BY SYLVIA MWEETWA –
POLICE in Chililabombwe have intercepted four trucks laden with more than 1,000 bags of cement and an undisclosed number of mealie-meal bags destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The trucks were intercepted at Bilanga market on the no man’s land, which borders Zambia and DRC.
Chililabombwe District Commissioner Stuart Chitumbo praised the police for acting swiftly against the increasing levels of smuggling, particularly involving mealie-meal.
Mr Chitumbo said smuggling of any commodity, if not checked, could negatively affect the country’s development through unpaid taxes.
He said the police were holding drivers of the two trucks, one of which was carrying 650 bags of cement while the other had 400 bags, to assist with investigations.
“I can confirm that our alert police officers at different times intercepted trucks each loaded with cement destined to the DRC.
“The officers also intercepted two trucks loaded with mealie-meal at the same spot, but we are yet to establish how many bags the trucks were carrying,” he said.
He commended the police for remaining vigilant and appealed to them to continue ensuring that sanity was restored to the transportation of goods.
