OVER K1BILLION INVESTIGATED IN MONEY LAUNDERING IN 2021
By Kennedy Phiri
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has disclosed that the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit investigated over K1Billion, over 54 million United States Dollars and over 23 Thousand Euros in money laundering cases last year.
This involved 219 cases in which 56 persons were arrested countrywide compared to 120 persons that were arrested in 221 cases that were recorded in 2020 involving over K200 million, over 3 Million United States Dollar and over 25 million British Pound.
DEC Public Relations Officer, Mathias Kamanga says the breakdown of the 219 cases are that 92 cases were reported from January to July before the 2021 general elections, while 127 cases were reported after the general elections.
He says the reports on different predicate offences to money laundering, came from the public and private sectors where 116 cases (53%) involved various frauds, 51 cases (23%) were for theft/embezzlement, and 45 cases (21%) came from other types of predicate offences all amounting to 25, 300. 00 Euros, K1, 209, 027,674.98 and USD 54, 255,154.00.
Mr. Kamanga says the Commission concluded a total of 764 cumulative cases in 2021 which led to the arrest of 56 persons in 39 cases for money laundering related offences involving K37, 596,490.80 and USD 400,445.00.
He says further, the Commission seized a total of three (3) real estate properties (land and buildings), thirty-two (32) motor vehicles, K 353, 628, 314.88, USD 28,739,621.55 and 589,751.50 Euros held in various bank accounts and cash amounts of USD 1,327,425.00 and K2,195,084.90.
In terms of drug related offences, the Commission in 2021 arrested a total of 3,893 persons comprising 3,634 males and 259 females as compared to 2020 where 4,335 persons were arrested.
This is contained in a statement made available to Diamond News by Mr. Kamanga.- Diamond TV