Maravi

DEC nabs priest for growing cannabis

COMMENT - I am all for decriminalisation and regulation of weed. However, leave it to the Church to be involved in major drug trafficking though. Two tonnes is a lot of weed, especially for a priest. :) (Oddly on their website, the New Apolistic Church mentions no branches in Zambia.)

DEC nabs priest for growing cannabis
By Chibaula Silwamba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 30 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on Christmas Day arrested a priest of New Apostolic Church in Sesheke district for cultivating cannabis near the church yard.

In a media statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, DEC spokesperson John Nyawali stated that William Pumulo Siomboka, 37, was arrested for cultivating 2.1 tonnes of cannabis.

“Priest Siomboka of Siomboka congregation in chief Imalenda’s area had cultivated his cannabis fields about 150 metres away from the church premises. He was arrested on Christmas Day together with six other females from the same area who had cultivated a total of 7.1 tonnes of cannabis,” Nyawali stated.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the group was contracted to cultivate the cannabis which was earmarked for export to the neighbouring countries.”

Nyawali stated that DEC was disheartened with the increasing number of custodians of good morals getting involved in illicit drug trade.

He urged people to uphold ethics and morals for a better future.
“Measures have been put in place to ensure that cannabis fields are identified at an earliest possible stage and destroyed before they reach the market,” stated Nyawali.

Meanwhile, about 700 kilogrammes of cannabis was seized on Christmas Day and 17 people arrested for trafficking in the psychotropic substance
Meanwhile, University Teaching Hospital (UTH) public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta yesterday said Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Dan Kalale is still admitted to the hospital.

Mbagweta however said Kalale’s condition was stable.
Kalale was last week admitted to the hospital following an illness.
Mbangweta however could not state what Kalale was suffering from.

Labels: CANNABIS, DEC, DRUGS, WILLIAM PUMULO SIOMBOKA

posted by MrK @ 8:03 AM