THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION (DEC) THROUGH ITS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THROUGH THE INTER-AGENCY FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE (ZP), DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION, AND THE ANTI-TERRORISM ORGANIZATION HAS NABBED 77 SUSPECTS, INCLUDING 50 MALES AND 27 FEMALES FROM ZAMBIA, ALONG WITH 23 FOREIGN NATIONALS, PREDOMINANTLY 22 CHINESE NATIONALS AND ONE CAMEROONIAN, HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED FOR INTERNET FRAUD.
DEC DIRECTOR GENERAL NASON BANDA SAYS OVER 13, 000 THOUSAND SIM CARDS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL, WAS SEIZED, UNDERSCORING THE EXTENT OF THE OPERATION’S REACH. COUNTING OF THESE SIM CARDS IS STILL IN PROCESS BUT SO FAR THE JOINT OPERATION HAD COUNTED OVER 1,742 VODAFONE SIM CARDS, OVER 7,778 MTN SIM CARDS, AND 4,016 AIRTEL SIM CARDS INCLUDING 11 SIM BOXES BY THE PRESS TIME.
HE ADDS THAT IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYED UNSUSPECTING ZAMBIAN YOUTHS AGED BETWEEN 20 AND 25, MOSTLY SCHOOL LEAVERS, UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY SHALL WORK AS CALL CENTER AGENTS, TASKING THEM WITH ENGAGING IN DECEPTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH UNSUSPECTING MOBILE USERS ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS SUCH AS WHATSAPP, TELEGRAM, CHATROOMS, AND OTHERS, USING SCRIPTED DIALOGUES.
MR BANDA SAYS THE SCOPE OF THEIR ILLICIT OPERATIONS EXTENDED BEYOND ZAMBIA’S BORDERS, WITH EVIDENCE INDICATING SOPHISTICATED MOBILE AND INTERNET COMMUNICATION WITH INDIVIDUALS IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS SINGAPORE, PERU, UAE, AND OTHERS ACROSS THE CONTINENT.