LUSAKA, Zambia — Zambian authorities argue an Egyptian national caught last summer attempting to smuggle gold, firearms and millions in cash out of the country willingly forfeited his jet and other seized items to make amends after being caught red-handed.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking permanent state forfeiture of Global Express Jet tail number T7-WSS along with $5.7 million dollars and weapons confiscated in August 2022 from passenger Michael Adel Michel Botros at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
In affidavits, Drug Enforcement Commission assistant commissioner Martin Chitamba refuted Botros' claim that his signed undertaking relinquishing the plane and possessions was made under duress, countering he voluntarily surrendered the property as “penance for engaging in illegal activities.”
Chitamba outlined evidence showing the Egyptian plotted with Zambians to illegally export prohibited minerals and had intentionally failed to declare the exorbitant cash or firearms when departing the country.
“Botros was on Zambian soil and it was necessary for him to declare the items on board…if the money was genuinely meant for a business transaction he would have genuinely declared it,” Chitamba told the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
The DEC commissioner argued returning the jet used criminally would allow Botros to benefit and would undermine justice and national security. He insisted the suspect opted to forfeit it willingly by admitting wrongdoing in writing.
With evidentiary submissions still ongoing, the state hopes Botros' foiled smuggling caper will cost him his plane, gold stash and a small fortune in banknotes the government asserts were clearly tied to illicit dealings.
