Makeni woman jailed for drug trafficking

A 42 year old woman of Makeni has
been sentenced to 9 months simple imprisonment by the Lusaka
Magistrate Court for trafficking in 39.1grams of marijuana.

Beatrice Nanyangwe, a business woman who was arrested by Drug
enforcement officers at her home in Makeni area this month, readily
pleaded guilty to trafficking in Psychotropic contrary to section six of
the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Act chapter 96 of the
Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Beatrice Nanyangwe on November 6, 2014 did traffic
in 39.1grams of marijuana a herbal product of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.

Facts of the matter are that officers from Drug Enforcement
Commission(DEC) received a tip that a named woman was dealing in
suspected drugs in  Makeni area and that after a search at Beatrice ‘s house, 20 balls of marijuana were found in the sitting room.

The court heard that Beatrice was arrested and later charged with the
offense in question.

And in mitigation, Nanyangwe asked the court to exercise leniency
on her as she was a first offender and that she has six children and two orphans to look after.

And delivering sentence, Magistrate Hollard said she had considered
the seriousness of the charge and the fact that the accused was a first offender who had readily pleaded guilty to the charge.

The magistrate sentenced Beatrice Nanyangwe to nine months simple imprisonment effective from the day of arrest.