
USD 2.3 Million, Gold Bars and a Getaway Car – State Moves to Forfeit Assets in Airport Smuggling Bust
Lusaka | Tuesday, 17 June 2025 – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today filed an application before the Economic and Financial Crimes Division of the High Court, seeking the non-conviction based forfeiture of US$2,320,000.00, seven gold bars, and a Toyota Rush vehicle suspected to be proceeds and instruments of crime.The application follows the April 18 arrest of 27-year-old Indian national Aamir Soeb Patel, who was intercepted at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) while allegedly attempting to smuggle the cash and gold out of the country aboard a flight to Dubai. Acting on intelligence, a joint operations team, comprising officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and other state security agencies, moved in swiftly, seizing the concealed items moments before departure.According to the affidavit sworn in support of the application by Drug Enforcement Commission Investigator, Ms. Yvonne Bwalya Mulenga, the seized cash, bundled in neat stacks of US dollars, was carefully concealed alongside seven gleaming gold bars, with an