Zambia's Police Service Commissioner and a magistrate are among six people charged and arrested in connection with the alleged theft of copper cathodes worth roughly N$ 7 million, police said Thursday.

Police Spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said the six were formally charged following investigations into the theft of 436 copper cathodes recovered in the Mokambo on the Zambia Congo border area of Mufulira District between March 6 and March 9, 2026.

Yuyi Mwala, who was serving as copper-rich Copperbelt province police chief, faces one count of theft by a public servant.

Police officers Patrick Muti, who was serving as police District Officer Commanding and his junior, Boniface Nchimunya, have also been arrested and detained as accomplices.

A Clerk of Court Obrian Chipunza and his boss Magistrate Edward Banda, all of Mufulira District have also been arrested and in police custody facing charges of one count each for Theft by Public Servant and one count of Giving False Information to a Public Officer.

A businessman, Daniel Makina, was charged with one count of Receiving Property Suspected to Have Been Stolen and one count of Giving False Information to a Public Officer.

It is alleged the copper was being transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to South Africa when the truck carrying the consignment was diverted into Zambia.

The consignment was later recovered by police in Mokambo, bordering Congo DR.

Investigations found that after the copper was placed in police custody, it was released to a private individual through an allegedly fraudulent disposal process.

It is further alleged that the copper was subsequently auctioned despite the owner of the consignment having been identified.

All six suspects remain in police custody and are expected to appear in court soon.