Zambian officials on Tuesday announced the seizure of a private plane carrying $5.7 million in cash, 602 gold bars and five pistols with 126 rounds of ammunition, Andalo news agency reported.
Following the seizure, 10 people, including a Zambian, six Egyptians, a Dutchman, a Spaniard and a Latvian, were detained by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for further investigations.
Nason Banda, the director general of the commission, said while speaking to the press in the capital Lusaka that the chartered plane carrying "dangerous goods" flew from Cairo, Egypt and landed on Monday evening at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
"According to this information, together with police officers from various law enforcement agencies, we carried out an operation that resulted in the seizure of 5.7 million dollars, five guns, 126 bullets, 602 pieces of gold weighing 127.2 kg. (£280) and gold measuring equipment,” Banda said.
The plane where the objects were found and another plane belonging to a local airline were seized.