Over 13,000 youths arrested for drug offences

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Police arrest handcuffs

Parliament heard yesterday that over 13,000 youths countrywide were arrested for drug-related offenses in a period on four years.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Panji Kaunda, told the House that 13,903 youths were arrested countrywide from January, 2011, to February, 2015.

Col Kaunda, who is a nominated Member of Parliament (MP), disclosed that out of that number, 10, 177 have since been convicted while 1, 140 are school going youths with over 2,000 still facing possible jail sentences during the period under review.

Col Kaunda advised young people to keep away from drugs as they have a negative impact on their lives.

He, however, assured that the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) under his ministry, working other agencies, is training peer educators and counsellors to sensitise youths on the dangers of taking drugs.

The Deputy Minister was responding to a question raised by UPND Mwinilunga MP, Stephen Katuka, who wanted to find out how many youths from January, 2011 to February this year, how many were school going and of those arrested, how many have been convicted so far for drug related offences.

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