Police in Salima on Sunday arrested a 38-year-old truck driver and his passenger after they were found with three bags of Indian hemp in the vehicle they were traveling on.

Salima Police public relations officer Sub-Inspector Gift Chitowe has identified the driver as Precious Maliwa and the 47-year-old passenger as McDonald Tembo who were nabbed after police mounted a snap check point at Chikwawa Trading Centre along Salima-Nkhotakota road.

On that day, police received a tip from well-wishers that the two had carried bags of Indian hemp in the freightliner registration number BLK 3624, and Trailer registration number BLK 5621.

“After receiving the tip off, our officers mounted a snap road Block at Chikwawa Trading Centre along Salima-Nkhotakota road. After the vehicle was searched and found with the hemp, the driver pointed a finger at the passenger as the owner of the hemp hence he was arrested and the hemp seized,” Chitowe said.

The driver was released to go but later on, police received another tip that they were still more bags containing Indian hemp.

Police then informed fellow officers at Kaphatenga Road Block search the vehicle and following the search, some bags were found and also the driver joined his friend in cooler.

They will soon appear in court to answer charges of being found with Indian hemp without license.

Maliwa comes from Chigalu Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chigalu in Blantyre while Tembo hails from Phalula village in the area of Traditional Authority Msamala in Balaka.