Zambia, Ghana to join hands in anti-drug fight

The government of Zambia has called for more exchange of ideas with Ghana to root out the causes of increased drug trafficking and money laundering in the two countries, the Times of Zambia reported on Tuesday.

Zambian Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu said when a delegation from Ghana paid a courtesy call at his office that the illicit drugs and money laundering cases were on the rise in the two countries, hence the need for the two governments to work together to address the causes.

"Your coming to Zambia is very important to see what we are doing so that we can also learn from what you do in Ghana. We are all faced with common problems of drug trafficking and money laundering," the Zambian minister was quoted as saying.

The Ghanaian delegation comprised officials from Ghana's Narcotic Control Board and other institutions like the financial intelligence unit. They were in Zambia to learn how the country's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) handled cases on drugs and money laundering and exchange experiences, according to Times.

Meanwhile, Ghana's delegation leader Stephen Tampuri Adongo said his government was delighted with the work of Zambia's anti-drug body was carrying out to reduce drug trafficking and money laundering, Times said.

He said his government decided to visit Zambia so that the two countries could share ideas on how to reduce incidences of drug trafficking and money laundering.

Zambia has seen a rise in drug trafficking and money laundering cases. The arrest of culprits was almost a weekly event in this southern African nation. Last year, a number of Zambian women were arrested both in the country and abroad for drug trafficking, with some hiding the drugs in their private parts.