By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
Police in Mushindamo have impounded assorted drugs packed in three big sacks suspected to have been illegally obtained from the Ministry of Health.
According to North western province deputy commissioner of police, Fred Mulenga, the incident happened on Sunday around 23:00 hours at Mushindamo police check point along the Solwezi-Kipushi road.
The consignment was headed for Kipushi border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr Mulenga said the drugs were loaded on the Benz Truck Registration Number ACZ 2264 belonging to Mr Kapaba of Solwezi Mitec area.
The truck was driven by Fredrick Mutampuka aged 24 years of Solwezi Zambian Compound Black bar area.
“The medicine was identified by medical personnel as follows, Coartem batch No QK 02319 quantity 27×30×24, Coartem batch No QK 02310 quantity 27×30×24, Coartem batch No QK 00938 quantity 13×30×24,RDTs 1×50, 1×50 pregnancy test kits, 7x30x24 Sildenfil Citrate Tab and one pack of Pill Fem.
“1×10 Azithromycin batch No EK 115, 8x20x10 chloroquine tablets batch No E05GE7008, 306 cannulars, 95 tablets of Vitamin C plus 10 zinc tablets, Vitamin C 502, Multivitamin 124 and Zinc+Vitamin 10×60 respectively,” Dr Mulenga said
Dr Mulenga said the driver told officers that he was merely hired as he was about to transport some perishable goods to be taken to Kipushi border for sale.
He said the driver explained that he was hired by a Congolese woman who had had sacks which were going to Kipushi border.
The woman is an agent at the border.
He said the Congolese woman was called but expressed ignorance over the items, saying she was merely an agent who she was expecting to receive then from Solwezi on behalf of a Congolese doctor of Lubambashi.
“However, on Monday police managed to meet the women, Kasengi Nguzu, at Kipushi border who was accompanied by one Congolese police officer and two other Congolese Government officials who said they were investigating the issue as well on their side,” he explained.
