Chamba transporter beats police roadblocks

Driver of a van registration number ZA 1580 carrying 109 bags of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) weighing 30 kilogrammes each managed to pass through all roadblocks from Nkhotakota to Lirangwe in Blantyre without law enforcers noticing.

If it were not for officials from the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) at their Lirangwe roadblock, the van would have safely arrived in Blantyre to offload the prohibited drug.

However, MRA officers impounded the van after the driver reportedly resisted to open the back of the van for check-up.

According to an MRA official at the roadblock, the driver, identified as Rington Muli by police, tried to offer them a bribe so that they let him go.

“Upon noting that his plans could not work the driver escaped the scene,” said the official who did not want to be named.

MRA has since handed over the van together with the hemp to the Malawi Police Service (MPS).

Were police officers in all roadblocks from Nkhotakota to Blantyre sleeping? Southern region police spokesperson James Kadadzera said in an interview today that they were also failing to find answers on the same.

“Let me tell you that we are all puzzled and as I am talking now we have launched an investigation on the matter,” he said.

Kadadzera said police are yet to make arrests on the matter and investigations are ongoing.

Once arrested, Muli will appear in court to answer the charge of being found in possession of Indian hemp.