Malawi Police Service has silently released six Mexicans who were arrested on Saturday at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe suspected to be drug lords enroute to Mozambique allegedly to set up laboratories for dangerous drugs.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya identified the six as Panfilo Hernandez, 27, Adrian Angulo, 30, Armando Hernadez, 32, Mario Picas, 32, Luiz Armando Ramirez, 44 and Cristhian Jovvany Hernandez, 30.
However, according to our sources, the six were released Thursday morning after the police found no case against them.
“After investigations, the police did not find any case against them. they were not found with drugs, or any link to drug smuggling. There were in Malawi in transit to Mozambique, and against what was reported earlier, there is no evidence that they were to set up laboratories for dangerous drugs,” said our source.
The source further said that the suspects were released from custody on Wednesday, and taken to Bridge View Hotel where they spent a night before they were let go Thursday morning.
“They were brought here by police in civilians. Their rooms were also booked for them. They left Thursday morning and were picked by a taxi driver,” said another source at the hotel
Efforts to contact Kalaya proved futile as his phones went unanswered after several attempts, while his deputy Harry Namwaza expressed ignorance on the matter, promising he will come back Friday morning after consulting the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
He was not picking up our calls as we went to press.
Unlike Nigerian national Mike Chukwu who has been released by the High Court judge Mzonde Mvula, the Mexicans were never taken to court.
The judge said Chuku’s detention was unlawful, and violation of section 42 (2) (b) of the constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
According to his lawyer Jefferson Luwa of Blackstone Chambers, Chuku was at first charged with aiding illegal importation of drugs, but it was later changed to action likely to cause breach of peace.
“After noting that they were still my keeping my client under custody, that’s when we applied for an order to release him from unlawful detention,” he said
Meanwhile, Luwa has indicated that his client intends to sue government for false imprisonment and defamation related charges.
“He was about to travel to the United States of America, and when news about his arrest related to drug trafficking got published, his VISA was cancelled,” he said
Soon after their release, Kalaya told The Nation newspaper that the US had provided us with information through International Police [Interpol] that the Mexicans are suspected to be part of a syndicate [in their country], involved in production and distribution of drugs.
“They [USA authorities] have information that these people are in the process of establishing drug labs, where they will be producing and distributing drugs to Africa and other countries. So, they were using Malawi as a transit route to Mozambique through Dedza border.”
He said the six are among suspected drug dealers wanted in the US. He said when the USA requested Malawi through Interpol to cooperate on the mission, a US team was also provided to work with local authorities.
Kalaya said initially they had difficulties questioning the suspects due to language barriers, but roped in an interpreter to help.
He said: “Both our team and those from the US are conducting the interviews. If we find them with any case in Malawi, we will act locally. One of them was found with some packets of drugs, which have been sent to a lab for testing.
“If they establish these labs in Mozambique, it is likely that Malawi would be affected. After detaining the six, Chukwu started banging tables, so he was arrested and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace and obstructing officers while on duty.”
