A 45-year-old businessman of Chipata District in Eastern Province has been arrested for possessing 22 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident to Zambia News Information and Services (ZANIS) in Chipata district, adding that the arrest was made yesterday, May 20, 2026.

Mr Mweemba said the suspect, Japhet Banda 45, was arrested on 20th May 2026 around 11:00 hours at Down Shops within Chipata district.

Brief facts of the matter are that a source trading at Down Shops in the area spotted a fellow fertilizer dealer in possession of unbranded bags of fertilizer and alerted the police.

Mr Mweemba explained that during interrogations, Banda revealed that on 16th May 2026 around 17:40hrs, his nephew, Joseph Shawa, informed him that a truck driver was selling bags of D-Compound fertilizer from a truck that had come from Lusaka.

“Banda sent money to his nephew and bought 22 bags of the suspected counterfeit fertilizer, which he kept at his shop for resale,” Mr Mweemba said.

The 22 bags have since been seized and are awaiting laboratory examination.

The suspect remains in police custody at Chipata Central Police Station pending further investigations.