Zambia releases 5 Egyptians after spying charges drop

2 September 2023 (Anatolia) A court in Zambia on Friday dropped espionage charges against 5 Egyptians and a local citizen, who arrived in the capital Lusaka three weeks ago on a private plane carrying $5.7 million in cash and firearms.

Prosecutor Gracilia Mulinga told the court: "Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Ferry has entered a state of non-investigation," a legal term in which the prosecutor refuses to pursue charges for the release of the accused.

According to Zambia Narcotics Commission spokesman Hussain Khan, "two Egyptians will be rearrested on lesser charges and then released on bail."

"Five other Zambian citizens have not been released and will be tried by the Supreme Court," he said in a press statement.

On Monday, the Magistrate's Court charged the eleven detainees, five Egyptians and 6 Zambians.

In mid-August, the Anti-Narcotics Commission announced the confiscation of $5.7 million, 602 bars suspected of being gold, which was later confirmed to be false, 5 pistols and 126 rounds from the plane that landed in Lusaka from Cairo.