Chembe police impound truck with mealie meal at border

Chembe police impound truck with mealie meal at border

Mansa, Mar 26/13, ZANIS——–Police in Chembe District over the weekend impounded a truck, registration number ADC 2284, laden with 200 by 25 kg bags of meali meal at Chembe border.

The mealie meal, belonging to a Mansa businesswoman, was destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Disclosing the development to ZANIS in Mansa, Luapula Province Police Commissioner, Philimon Mutale named the businesswoman as Mary Ngandwe, aged 45, of Pengu village in Mansa district.

Mr Mutale said the police conducted an operation on Friday night at Chembe border and manage to detaine  the truck around midnight after suspecting that it had something hidden in it.

The Police Commissioner said at the time of detention the truck was covered with empty tomato crates portraying to be carrying tomatoes which upon search in the morning, was found to be carrying mealie meal.

Mr Mutale said the owner Mary Ngandwe has admitted to smuggling the meali meal into the Democratic Republic of Congo and said she was doing it for the first time.

Police have since taken the matter to the court in Mansa to decide on the impounded mealie meal and the case will be head today.

Meanwhile Chembe District Commissioner, Simon Lwando, told ZANIS in an interview that Chembe border has been declared a no smuggle area.

Mr Lwando has since warned those with intentions to smuggle through Chembe that police in the area are alert and ready to deal with them.