The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested and jointly charged a Human Resource Officer at the Supreme Court and three others for being in possession of K20,000 counterfeit notes.

And the commission in Eastern Province has arrested and jointly charged a 48 year-old Magistrate and a student for being in possession of another K7,900 counterfeit notes.

Ruth Chabinga Phiri aged 39, a Supreme Court Human Resource Officer of 392 Burma Road in Chilenje has been arrested and jointly charged with Brighton Chongo aged 54, a former Banker of 34/305 New Chifundo Road in Chawama; Mulako Mukwazo aged 26, a Legal Assistant at the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited residing in Kaunda Square Stage II; and Naomi Phiri aged 32, a Registry Clerk at the Boma Local Court for being in possession of K20, 000 counterfeit notes.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo in a statement revealed that the commission also seized a motor vehicle (Toyota Noah) and a safe containing black paper cuttings suspected to be used in the processing of counterfeit notes among others.

“The Commission has since seized a motor vehicle (Toyota Noah), a safe containing black paper cuttings, containers containing some liquid suspected to be used in the processing of counterfeit notes and clear plastic bags containing an unknown substance in powder form,” Katongo stated.

Meanwhile the Commission in Eastern province has arrested and jointly charged a 48 year-old female Magistrate and a student for being in possession of K7, 900 counterfeit notes.

Katongo stated that Wendy Juliet Tembo aged 48, a Magistrate of Shimukunami Local Court in Lufwanyama District has been arrested and jointly charged with Obrien Banda aged 30, a student at Makeni College of Education in Lusaka.

She stated that all the suspects are currently in Police custody and will appear in court soon.