A 22-YEAR-OLD businesswoman of Chimwemwe in Kitwe has been sentenced to three years simple imprisonment by the Ndola Magistrate’s Court for trafficking in 216 grammes of cocaine.
Chief resident magistrate Paul Chisha on Monday convicted and jailed Joyce Banda after she pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine.
“I admit being found in possession of the cocaine, but it was not mine. I was just sent,” Banda said.
Particulars of the offence are that Banda, on April 17 this year in Ndola, trafficked in 216.35 grammes of cocaine without lawful authority.
Facts before the court were that on the fateful day around 13:00 hours, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers apprehended Banda at Broadway bus station on suspicion that she was dealing in illicit drugs.
The DEC officers searched Banda and found her in possession of 16 pellets containing some white power and six rocks of a similar substance concealed in her handbag.
The court heard that Banda was taken to Kansenshi Police Station and detained while the suspected drugs were taken to Lusaka for analysis at the Food and Drug Control laboratory and confirmed to be cocaine.
Banda was arrested and charged with the subject offence and she admitted the charge after being warned and cautioned.
In mitigation, Banda asked the court to exercise maximum leniency on her and she vowed never to commit a similar offence in future.
“I promise never to engage in any similar activities, the items I was carrying were not mine,” Banda said.
Passing sentence, Mr Chisha said he would not allow “foreign pollutants” in the country.
He said cocaine is a foreign drug and allowing it in the country would result in disorder by the users.
“This scourge must, therefore, be stopped by punishing people like you and the sponsor of this business since you said it is not yours,” Mr Chisha said.
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Girl (22) Jailed For Trafficking Cocaine
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