By ALEX NJOVU
POLICE on the Copperbelt have arrested two truck drivers who allegedly diverted 11,200 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize belonging to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) worth more than K740 million.
Acting Copperbelt police commanding officer Milner Muyambango confirmed the incident in Kitwe on Monday.
“We have arrested two truck drivers who diverted two trucks carrying maize belonging to FRA and the trucks crossed Kasumbalesa border post where they disappeared,” he said.
Mr Muyambango said the two men are allegedly working with some officials from FRA to steal maize from the agency.
He named the suspects as Chela Chileshe and Lucas Nkoma, both of Ndola. Mr Muyambango said the two were arrested when they tried to divert about 1,900 bags of maize at a road block in Chambishi.
“They were transporting maize from Lupama satellite depot to the main depot in Chambishi when they were arrested. The officials from Lupama called the main depot officials to find out whether they had received the consignment, but to their surprise they were told that no maize had been delivered. That is when the police officers were involved and a road block was mounted and the two men were arrested,” he said.
Mr Muyambango said the duo has been charged with theft of goods in transit and will appear in court soon.
He said police managed to recover the 1,900 bags of maize while the other consignment has not been found.
Meanwhile, police on the Copperbelt are looking for unknown people who allegedly stole copper that was in transit from Shemaf mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Muyambango said the truck carrying the copper was found abandoned near Luanshya turnoff and that the driver is at large.
He said the police are being helped in their investigations by the driver’s helper.
“We have not arrested the lorry boy. He is just helping us with information that we need to bring the culprits to book. The driver is the one who is at large,” Mr Muyambango said.
