A joint operation by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Zambia Police Service has resulted in the arrest of 36 suspects during the One Love Reggae Festival, widely known as the “Jah Night Musical Concert,” held at Mika Convention Centre in Silverest, Chongwe District.
According to DEC, the suspects were allegedly involved in trafficking over four kilogrammes of high-grade cannabis and other illegal substances during the event.
What caught many people’s attention was the way some of the drugs were reportedly being distributed. Officers say they discovered cannabis packed in sachets and prepacks, alongside baked products including cakes and scones allegedly infused with cannabis and prepared for sale to people attending the concert.
Authorities also seized several bottles of Benylin with Codeine, a controlled medicine that has increasingly been linked to recreational abuse.
DEC says entertainment events should not become spaces for drug trafficking and substance abuse, warning that such activities continue to pose serious risks, especially to young people.
The Commission added that operations targeting narcotics and psychotropic substances will continue across the country as part of wider efforts to clamp down on illegal drug networks.
The enforcement operation was carried out in collaboration with the Zambia Police Service.