KK registers rise in Indian hemp convictions
A Nkhotakota Police Station 2015 report indicates that 71 people were convicted for illegal possession of Indian hemp (chamba) compared to 20 people in 2014, representing a139 percent increase.
Statistics in the report show that from January 1 to December 30 2015, 81 cases of illegal possession of hemp were recorded, of which 71 were convicted, four are remanded, two were acquitted while four are on police bail.
Nkhotakota Police Station spokesperson Williams Kaponda said in 2015, the station intensified its operations resulting in being recognised as the second best performers in the Central Region.
He said: “We worked hard because we wanted to eradicate crime. The station management fully supported all initiatives that assisted in the fight against drug abuse. It is not a mean achievement to register 71 convictions from 20 the previous year.”
Kaponda also attributed the success to the cordial relationship between the police and communities who played an important role in whistle-blowing.
Kaponda said most of the arrests occurred at Kaombe Police Roadblock while others occurred during snap roadblocks, resthouse searches, monitoring uncharted routes and sweeping exercises.
