A 33-year old female peasant farmer of Masonde farming block in Luwingu District in Northern Province has appeared in the Luwingu Magistrate Court for trafficking in psychotropic substances.
Before Luwingu Resident Magistrate Sharon Luhanga was Juliet Chibale who was charged with prohibition of drug or precursor chemical contrary to sections 15 (1) and (2) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Act number 35 of 2021 of the Laws of Zambia.
This is a matter that came up for Plea in which Chibale pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Particulars of the offence are that on December 15, 2024, police received a tip off from the public that Chibale was selling marijuana.
Acting on the report a joint operation of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Zambia Police Service proceeded to search her house in Masonde Farm Block and found 209 grams of marijuana.
The accused, under a warning and caution statement, gave a free and voluntary reply admitting the charge, but when she appeared before Luwingu Resident Magistrate Sharon Luhanga, Chibale pleaded not guilty to the charge alleging that she does not know the rightful owner of the contraband.
The matter has since been adjourned to January 30, 2025, for trial, and Chibale is remanded in police custody.
Meanwhile, the Luwingu magistrate court has found Gilbert Mwenya, a 32-year old man of Tolopa Village in chief Chipalo, with a case of trafficking in psychotropic substances weighing three grams.
Mwenya has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of trafficking in marijuana.
The matter has since been adjourned to January 30, 2025 for the commencement of trial while the suspect is still remanded in custody.