THE department of foreign affairs is confident that Herman
Swart, a South African arrested in Zambia allegedly for drug
possession, will be released soon.
Swart’s family and friends claim the narcotic is actually a
prescription drug.
Foreign Affairs representative Ronnie Mamoepa confirmed on Monday
that Swart, a computer consultant from Cape Town, had been arrested
in the Zambian border town of Nakonde last Sunday.
”Our people are confident that he will be released soon,”
Mamoepa said.
Swart’s friend, Dr Anton Stone, told The Citizen newspaper that
the drug allegedly found in Swart’s possession was a prescribed
local anaesthetic, lignocaine.
However, Zambian authorities allege the drug is lidocaine, a
prohibited narcotic in Zambia.
Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) representative Nason Banda
was unable to confirm details of the arrest, but said anyone found
in possession of narcotics could face a charge of drug-trafficking,
which was a non-bailable offence in Zambia.
”We will take the matter to court and the court determines, but
he faces a maximum of 25 years with hard labour if the drug is more
than 0.5 grams,” he told Sapa.
Following the upsurge of drug trafficking in recent years,
Zambian authorities have increased penalties for drug-related
offences.
Swart, Stone and three other companions were returning home
through Zambia after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Stone said they had turned down the services of two unofficial
immigration agents because they did not have enough US dollars to
pay them. This apparently resulted in drug enforcement officials
insisting on searching their vehicles.
An official apparently pulled apart their medical kit and
confiscated a 50ml injectable bottle of lignocaine.
Stone said he had prescribed and obtained the drug for an
emergency on the trip. Copes of the prescription and Stone’s
qualifications have been sent to the Zambian authorities. – Sapa