DEC declares Tasila most wanted person

By GIDEON NYENDWA

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has disclosed that Chawama Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu is on its most wanted list failing to appear before the commission for alleged money laundering crimes.
Nason Banda, the DEC Director General says he is wondering why the Chawama law maker has failed to appear before the agency with regards to the charges being brought before her.
Mr. Banda said Ms Lungu was delaying the due process of the law hence the need for her to appear before the agency so that she could be cleared as opposed to hiding.
He questioned the tendency of political individuals to delay in appearing before the agency when summoned for questioning, which according to him was raising suspicions.
”It is for the reason that the agency is working tirelessly on building a society that is transparent and accountable especially among public and politically-inclined officials,” Mr Banda said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda has said the agency had recovered about US$30 million in asset forfeiture recovery this year through property and cash among others and K57 million from money laundering activities in 2023.
He said they recovered funds stemmed from 299 reported cases of money laundering, leading to the seizure of 274 vehicles and 35 have been forfeited to the state, while investigations into 129 vehicles continue.
Mr Banda said DEC dismantled 63 out of 130 active syndicates in Zambia this year, achieving a 48 percent success rate.
He also announced that DEC will spend K240 million to construct a rehabilitation centre in the Balmoral area of Lusaka.
“An Environmental Impact Assessment has already been completed, and the road to the site is under construction,” he said.
Mr Banda said DEC also applied to convert one of the seized properties into an additional rehabilitation facility.