Nakonde man imprisoned for drugs

Nakonde man imprisoned for drugs

Nakonde, March 1, ZANIS ——– A 20-year-old youth of Nakonde district in Muchinga Province has been convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour on charges of drug trafficking.

Appearing before Nakonde Magistrate John Kajiko Njapau for sentencing yesterday was Dickson Nkhosi of Katozi village in Chieftainess Nawaitwika’s area in Nakonde district.

Nkhosi stood charged with one count of trafficking in 15 sachets of Heroine weighing 0.35 kilograms contrary to section 6 chapter 96 of narcotic drugs of the laws of Zambia.

Nkhosi pleaded guilty to the charge.

Facts presented before court were that on February 19 this year, Nkhosi was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers in his home where they found the said drugs concealed under the furniture after conducting a search. 

This was after the DEC officers got tips from members of public that Nkhosi was illegally selling the said items at his home.

When passing judgment the Magistrate said he had taken into account of all what the accused had said in mitigation but that cases to do with drug trafficking was on the rise in the border town.

Magistrate Njapau said in order to contain drug trafficking in the area there is need to punish the perpetrators once found guilty.

The Magistrate observed that the accused had reached a very dangerous stage in his life more especially that he had even started dealing in one of the strongest and dangerous drugs like heroine.

Mr Njapau also said that he was therefore going to punish Nkhosi in order to deter other would be offenders.

He said that he was sending Nkhosi to prison for one year six months with hard labour with effect from yesterday.

“Iam sending you to prison for 18 months with hard labour with effect from today,” said Magistrate Njapau.  

In mitigation, Nkhosi said that he was a family man with two children who would suffer if he was sent to prison.

Nkhosi further said that he was asking the court to exercise maximum lenience on him as he didn’t know that the business he was dealing in would land him in such big problems.