DEC recovers stolen medical drugs from Pharmacies
By White Luhanga
The Drug Enforcement Commission -DEC in collaboration with the Zambia Police has recovered assorted stolen Government medicines from Pharmacies.
Two people have been arrested after thorough inspections of pharmacies in the country.
This follows a raid on pharmacies in Southern, Western, and Lusaka Provinces by the Task Force on the theft of government medicines.
DEC Public Relations Officer ALLAN TAMBA says RUTH NGOMA 56, was arrested on April 17, after she was found in possession of assorted medicines with an estimated value of 22,422 Kwacha.
The medicines are believed to have been stolen from Kalingalinga Health Centre.
He says Ms. NGOMA was subsequently charged with the offense of theft by a Public Servant.
Mr TAMBA disclosed that the task force also arrested AUDREY YAMBALA 47, on April 18, 2025 after she was found in possession of one box of ZINNIA F, property reasonably believed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Mr TAMBA added that other medicines discovered during the course of investigations include Depo-Provera and malaria treatment drugs.
He says some medicines have been linked to a known male foreign national who is currently at large and a manhunt has been launched to determine the suspect’s whereabouts.
Mr TAMBA added that at one pharmacy in Western Province, some medicines were discovered that were traced to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency -ZAMMSA database.
Meanwhile, YAMBALA and NGOMA have been released on police bond and the investigations are still ongoing.
