13 July 2009
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Lusaka has arrested a Senegalese businessman together with his Zambian wife for being in possession of US$21,000 counterfeit notes.
DEC public relations officer, John Nyawali identified the suspect as Paul Wakazika, 38, a businessman and his Zambian wife, Trinidad Njovu of Mandevu Township who were arrested after a tip from the public.
Mr Nyawali said yesterday that DEC had also confiscated a printing machine and chemicals suspected to have been used in producing the notes.
"I can confirm that we have arrested Mr Wakazika who is a businessman and preliminary investigations reveal that he was assisted by his wife in the dubious activity as he was also found in possession of a Zambian National Registration Card," he said.
He said the fake dollars notes were concealed in $100 notes and commended the public for alerting the commission. He said the seizure of $21,000 brings the total amount of fake notes to $2.5 million from January this year and that the commission would continue being alert to ensure that the fake notes were not distributed on the market.
He said currency dealers were targeting peasant farmers who had no access to machines to detect whether the notes were fake or not.
Mr Nyawali warned that the commission would not hesitate to ensure those involved in dubious activities were brought to book. He called on the farmers in the country to be on the look-out to avoid losing their money. He advised them to them to always consider buying their currencies from registered bureaus or banks.
The two have since been remanded in custody awaiting court appearance.
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