Four Zambians Arrested in Lilongwe for Smuggling Dangerous Live Crayfish
Published on May 18, 2025 at 1:05 PM by Evance Kapito
Four Zambian nationals have been arrested and detained at Lingadzi Police Station in Lilongwe after they were caught attempting to smuggle over 200 kilograms of live exotic crayfish into Malawi.
Authorities say the invasive species pose a serious threat to Malawi’s aquatic ecosystem, including the survival of native fish species like chambo, as the crayfish are known to prey on other fish and disrupt natural habitats.
On Saturday morning, the Principal Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe, through Magistrate Benjamin Chulu, granted permission to the Department of Fisheries to destroy the seized crayfish by incineration at Kamuzu Central Hospital.
Deputy Director of Fisheries, Maxon Ngochera, confirmed the development and expressed gratitude to the Malawi Revenue Authority and the police for their swift action. He warned that if such species were to spread into Malawi’s rivers and lakes, they could cause serious ecological damage and threaten the fishing industry.
The suspects are expected to appear in court soon to face charges related to illegal importation and environmental endangerment.
