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By Everson Luhanga
- Nine suspects used a fake funeral procession to smuggle charcoal worth three million Malawian kwacha near Blantyre.
- The suspects escaped custody and face charges of illegal possession and transport of forestry products if caught.
Forestry officers in Malawi uncovered a charcoal smuggling operation disguised as a funeral procession after receiving a tip about a suspicious hearse.
Officers stopped the vehicle at a roadblock about 40km south of Blantyre. Inside, they found an empty coffin with about 30 large bags of charcoal hidden underneath. The haul was worth three million Malawian kwacha.
Nine suspects were briefly detained but later escaped from custody. They left the impounded hearse behind. A police spokesperson confirmed the incident. The suspects have not yet been charged and remain on the run.
Charcoal smuggling is common in Malawi. Many families rely on it for cooking because electricity blackouts happen often. For many households, charcoal is the only affordable option.
But forestry officials say illegal charcoal trading is one of the main causes of deforestation in the country. Cutting down trees for fuel leaves communities exposed to heat and floods.
Chikwawa district forestry officer Hector Nkawihe said the suspects face two charges, illegal possession of forestry products and transporting them. If found guilty, they could face up to five years in prison or pay fines.
Pictured above: Charcoal being sold on the side of the road in Malawi
Image source: Supplied
