Zambia's Drug Enforcement CommissionSome of marijuana was found concealed in lorry wheelsA "notorious" Tanzanian drug-trafficking kingpin has been arrested in Zambia during a raid, the Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has announced.Ahmed Muharram was among several suspects detained in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, along with large quantities of marijuana and cough syrup containing codeine in several drug busts on Tuesday, the authorities said."The suspect is a known transnational drug trafficker," the DEC said, adding that the 40-year-old had long been on the anti-drug agency's watch-list. The arrest of Muharram, who has not yet commented, was made possible thanks to a series of intelligence-led operations, the agency said.Under Zambian law, marijuana is classed as a dangerous drug and is illegal to possess.The trafficking, possession and use of illegal drugs such as cannabis is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence.The southern Africa country struggles with drug abuse and trafficking, especially cannabis and heroin.‘My son is a drug addict, please help’ – the actor breaking a Zambian tabooStudent cannabis cake baker punished with essayDuring Tuesday's operations, the DEC said it had seized 221.2kg of cannabis hidden in a lorry in Lusaka's Lilayi area.The search was extended to Muharram's residence in Lilayi, where officers discovered an additional 1,159.6kg of "high-grade" cannabis, bringing the total seizure to 1,380.8kg, the agency added. A Zambian national who was also arrested is believed to be an accomplice in the organised drug-trafficking scheme.The DEC said their operations also saw the arrests of:A Zambian national for trafficking 55 boxes of Benylin containing codeine in LusakaTwo other Zambians for trafficking cannabis concealed in their vehicleTwo Burundian nationals in the southern district of Chirundu for trafficking cannabis in separate vehicles: some was hidden inside a spare lorry tyre, some in gas compressors and additional cannabis was mixed with sugar, salt and paint and concealed in tins and buckets of paint."All suspects have since been detained in lawful custody and will appear in court soon," DEC said in a statement. The agency said it was committed to ensuring that Zambia was neither used as a corridor nor a destination for drug trafficking.Devastating toxic spill seen as test of whether African countries will stand up to ChinaArtist explores the toxic mining legacy of Zambia's 'black mountains'Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammedZambian-American influencer sentenced to 18 months for hate speechGetty Images/BBCGo to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafricaBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is AfricaZambiaTanzaniaAfrica
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