The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has apprehended three foreign nationals for the alleged illegal importation of unregistered medicines into Zambia.
ZAMRA inspectors, working with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), intercepted the suspects at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at approximately 01:00 hours on 6 November 2026. The individuals had arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The suspects are Sarfaraz Abdul Samad, aged 28, and Nadim Umarji Patel, aged 31, both Indian nationals, and Abou Khaijl Hamze, aged 36, a Lebanese national. During routine regulatory inspections, ZAMRA inspectors discovered several packages containing unregistered medicines in their luggage. The individuals reportedly failed to produce valid import permits issued by the Authority.
The medicines have been seized. The suspects remain in lawful custody and are assisting ZAMRA and DEC with ongoing investigations. The authority stated that appropriate charges will be preferred in accordance with the law, subject to the outcome of the investigations.
The importation of medicines into Zambia is regulated under Section 35(1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013, which requires valid import permits from ZAMRA.
ZAMRA did not name the specific medicines seized, the quantities involved, the intended destination.
Source: Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), 11 November 2026: https://www.zamra.co.zm/2026/11/11/three-foreign-nationals-apprehended-over-alleged-illegal-importation-of-unregistered-medicines/
