Police at Mponela in Dowa have arrested a 47-year-old man identified as Manase Jossam, for being found in possession of five tobacco bales suspected to have been stolen.
Mponela Police spokesperson, Sergeant Macpatson Msadala, said the suspect was arrested around 3:00 am on June 5, 2023 at Mtengowanthenga Trading Centre after the men in uniform received a tip that he was trying to stop a vehicle to transport the five bales of tobacco to Lilongwe.
He said acting on the information received, officers from Mtengowanthenga apprehended the suspect and seized the tobacco bales which the suspect by then had hid in a bush.
“After inspection of the bales, it was discovered that the tobacco bales were those bought from farmers at Mzuzu Auction Floors.
“The suspect revealed that he stole the tobacco after cutting ropes from a moving vehicle which was transporting the commodity from Mzuzu Auction Floors to Lilongwe to an undisclosed tobacco company,” said Msadala.
He said the suspect will appear before the court soon after investigations.
