Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has revealed that a Tanzanian national recently arrested in Zambia over drug trafficking was also on its most wanted list.
DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo told the ‘Daily News’ that the suspect, namely Mr Ahmed Muharram, had been under close surveillance for a long time before fleeing Tanzania.
Following his arrest in the neighbouring country, the authority has intensified efforts to track down his associates believed to be operating in South Africa, Dubai, Malawi, Kenya and other parts of the world.
“We had already arrested some of his accomplices here in Tanzania, which forced him to escape to Zambia,” Commissioner General Lyimo said.
He explained that Tanzania and Zambia have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on joint intelligence sharing and antinarcotics operations, which played a key role in the suspect’s eventual capture.
“This individual had been on our radar for a long time. After fleeing Tanzania in 2023, we continued working closely with Zambian authorities through intelligence cooperation until he was finally arrested,” he said.
The DCEA boss added that the authority immediately contacted its Zambian counterparts to verify the arrest and to coordinate further action on the matter.
Zambian authorities described him as a notorious transnational drug trafficking kingpin.
Mr Muharram was arrested in Lusaka during an operation conducted by the Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which also resulted in the seizure of large quantities of illegal drugs.
According to the DECA, the 40-year-old Tanzanian was apprehended alongside several other suspects during a series of intelligence-led raids.
“The suspect is a known transnational drug trafficker who has long been on our watch list,” the Zambian anti-drug agency said in a statement.
During the operation, officers seized 221.2 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in a lorry in Lusaka’s Lilayi area.
A subsequent search at Muharram’s residence led to the discovery of an additional 1,159.6 kilogrammes of high-grade cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 1,380.8 kilogrammes.
A Zambian national believed to be part of the organised trafficking network was also arrested during the operation.
Under Zambian law, marijuana is classified as an illegal and dangerous drug, with trafficking and possession punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment.
Zambia, like many countries in the southern African region, continues to battle challenges related to drug abuse and trafficking, particularly involving cannabis and heroin.
The arrest of Muharram marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing regional fight against transnational drug trafficking.
