Salima Police Arrest Woman for Possession of Chamba Without Permit
Published on February 9, 2026 at 11:30 AM by Edgar Naitha
Police in Salima have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Linda Banwell, for allegedly being found in possession of Cannabis sativa, locally known as chamba, without a permit.
Salima Police public relations officer Rabecca Ndiwate said Banwell was arrested on Saturday, February 7, 2026, around 1:00 a.m. at Katelera Trading Centre, where police had mounted a roadblock.
Ndiwate said the suspect was apprehended after police stopped a van travelling from Nkhotakota to Balaka.
She explained that officers intercepted the vehicle during the roadblock and discovered Banwell in possession of a sack containing loose cannabis. The suspect failed to produce a permit when requested, prompting her arrest.
Banwell hails from Bango Village, Traditional Authority Mwadzama, in Nkhotakota District.
