79 foreign nationals, Zambians arrested in suspected cybercrime bust

POLICE in Lusaka have arrested 79 people, including 10 Zambians, suspected of involvement in a newly established and highly organized cybercrime network. The suspects were apprehended on 23rd August, 2026 during a joint operation at Evana Estates in New Kasama, Lusaka, following a tip-off from members of the public about suspicious activities, the Zambia Police

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POLICE in Lusaka have arrested 79 people, including 10 Zambians, suspected of involvement in a newly established and highly organized cybercrime network.

The suspects were apprehended on 23rd August, 2026 during a joint operation at Evana Estates in New Kasama, Lusaka, following a tip-off from members of the public about suspicious activities, the Zambia Police Service said Monday.

According to a joint statement by police, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Department of Immigration, those arrested include 35 Ugandans, 11 Chinese, eight Kenyans, six Ghanaians, five Liberians, two Burundians, one Chadian and one Zimbabwean.

Authorities said officers seized 73 desktop computers, six laptops, 140 mobile phones, five Starlink kits, two external hard drives, 10 new SIM cards and 75 passports. They also recovered 21,490 kwacha, $10,450 and assorted foreign currencies.

The statement said preliminary examination of the items suggests the premises were being used by a highly organized network suspected of conducting cyber-related criminal activities.

“The full nature, structure, scale and extent of the suspected criminal activity, including its possible links to other individuals or networks within and outside Zambia, remain under investigation,” the statement said.

Investigators are also examining the recruitment, accommodation and working conditions of some foreign nationals. Preliminary information suggests some may have been recruited under deceptive circumstances and that the freedom of movement of some may have been restricted.

“Possible elements of human trafficking or exploitation could not, at this stage, be ruled out,” the statement said.

All 79 suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. Authorities said they are working to identify the masterminds behind the network and any other connected persons.

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