The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a South African national for unauthorized interception of communication using interception devices without lawful authority.

In a statement issued by DEC Deputy Public Relations Officer Kamufisa Manchishi, the Commission had also arrested and jointly charged five suspects for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to K177,900.

Manchishi identified the South African national as Micheal John Cheek ,48, a Drones Sales Manager of House No. 1226 Bingini Falls Crescent in Johannesburg.

“Cheek has been arrested for unauthorised interception of or interference to data, interception of communication without lawful authority and use of interception devices without lawful authority contrary to the laws of Zambia,” Manchishi said.

“Particulars of the offence are that Micheal John Cheek, in his capacity as Drones Sales Manager of a named company in South Africa, jointly and whilst acting with other persons unknown, on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2016 and 15th June, 2017 supplied and facilitated the installation of Subscribers Identification Module (SIM) boxes and Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) Gate Way Servers at a named Internet Service Provider in Lusaka. Using these devices, the suspect was terminating international calls and forwarding them to local subscribers as local calls when in fact not.”

In a related development, the Commission arrested and jointly charged a Zimbabwean national and a Zambian for money laundering activities contrary to the laws of Zambia.

“Rory John Hamish Logan, 50, a Trader of house no. 7 Cactus Villas Leopards Hill, in Lusaka has been arrested and jointly charged with Linos Mwamba Kelen Simungala, 40, a Businessman of Plot No. 12546 Market Road, Kaunda Square Township in Lusaka District for Corrupt practices contrary to the laws of Zambia,” he stated.

According to Manchishi, particulars of the offence are that on 16th June, 2017, Rory John Hamish Logan jointly and whilst acting together with Linos Mwamba Kelen Simungala and other persons unknown did engage in corrupt practices by giving money amounting to K20,000 to a DEC officer as inducement to facilitate the release of a suspect by the name of Micheal John Cheek a South African National who was apprehended in a matter being investigated by the Commission.

And Manchishi revealed that the Commission in Lusaka had arrested and jointly charged five suspects for being in possession of counterfeit notes amounting to K177, 900.

“The five have been identified as David Mwasile, 27, a business man of Chawama Compound in Lusaka, Jason Zulu, 61, of Misisi Compound in Lusaka, Humphrey Muyanga, 38, a businessman, Alitani Banda, 49, a general worker residing in Misisi Compound in Lusaka and Humphrey Mulowa, 36, of Nakonde,” said Manchishi.

“The Commission would, therefore, like to remind members of the public especially peasant farmers and business entities to understand the features of the Zambian Kwacha notes as they risk being duped by unscrupulous persons dealing in counterfeit notes.”

He further disclosed that the commission in Eastern Province had arrested Jacob Banda, 33, a small scale farmer of Chinunda village in Chipata District for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 36kg.

Manchishi said all suspects would appear in court soon.