By Ebi Kesiena
Zambia’s anti-money laundering and drug trafficking body has intercepted and seized a foreign private jet at the country’s biggest Airport – Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, laden with gold, weapons and over $5 million.
According to the agency, the private jet and its occupants are clearly engaged in criminal activities yet to be established. So far, 10 people have been arrested, with a promise of the number of those arrested, increasing.
It all begun on Monday evening when word went round the country through social media that a serious secret undertaking was going on at the country’s biggest Airport, Kenneth Kaunda International, old terminal.
Officers from various state security agencies ran to establish the facts on the ground and indeed, a suspicious foreign private jet, known as Global Express T7-WW, was found with guns, suspected gold and over $5 million cash laden on it.
The private jet that came from Cairo, Egypt and had its final destination as Zambia was supposed to return within a short time before it was intercepted and seized.
DEC Director General, Nason Banda, confirmed the arrest.
Banda has however refused to comment on if the confiscated items are politically connected, noting that investigations into this matter are continuing but the seized items are now in custody of the State.
They have been concerns coming from stakeholders including politicians on suspected illegal lifting of minerals from Zambia and gold has been at the height of those.
Opposition leader of the Socialist Party, Fred M’membe and another Parliamentarian, Binwell Mpundu, have been on record making claims of gold and other resources being taken out illegally from the country.
