By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
NINE suspected smugglers have been apprehended in Ndola for attempting to ferry mealie-meal to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Authorities have also uncovered a scam in which suspected smugglers have resorted to using small motor vehicles and bicycles as the modes of transporting the commodity instead of trucks that had been impounded in recent weeks.
Both acting Ndola District Commissioner (DC) Taphen Mulongo and the Patriotic Front (PF) security wing confirmed the scam and the apprehending of four Congolese and five Zambians in Ndola’s Chifubu Township on Friday evening.
Mr Mulongo said the suspects were apprehended after a vigilant team of the PF security wing trailed them as they attempted to smuggle the commodity to the DRC.
“The reports we are receiving are very encouraging, we can’t say we have curbed smuggling, but I think the vice is being reduced and this is attributed to the security wing that is doing a commendable job to ensure that they are carrying out patrols and I believe as a district we are on top of things,” he said.
Mr Mulongo said the nine suspects were currently in police custody and two vehicles, a Toyota Spacio and Fun Cargo had been impounded.
He confirmed the impounding of a truck laden with more than 1,000 bags of mealie-meal believed to have been purchased from a milling company in Kabwe.
He said investigations had been instituted to ascertain whether the mealie-meal was for resale in the DRC or the company had a genuine licence to trade.
PF security wing chairperson Albert Kapakala said his team pounced on the suspects after a tip off from members of the public.
He said the Congolese who were working with Zambians had been using young girls and boys to buy mealie-meal from various shops around Chifubu at a fee of K5 and hoarding it in the house in which they were apprehended.
He said the suspects resorted to using bicycles and small vehicles to smuggle the commodity.
Mr Kapakala said the smugglers had started using a new route, which went through Kawama to Sakania border to smuggle the commodity.