Police in Nkhotakota have arrested two men in connection with the theft of a nuclear density gauge machine valued at K37 million belonging to CR20 Construction Company, the contractor rehabilitating the M5 Road between Salima and Nkhotakota.
Nkhotakota Police Station Public Relations Officer Sergeant Chisomo Chuma identified the suspects as Samuel Mchochoma, 40, and Jester Dyson, 37.
According to Chuma, the company received three new nuclear density gauge machines in December 2025 and stored them in a secure storeroom at its premises.
She said the theft was discovered on February 27, 2026, when the company’s Assistant Materials Engineer went to collect one of the machines for use at the construction site and found that one had been stolen from its plastic storage box.
“The matter was immediately reported to Benga Police Unit, where investigations were launched. Following intelligence-led investigations, police arrested the two suspects and successfully recovered the stolen machine,” said Chuma.
The suspects are expected to appear before court soon to answer charges of breaking and theft.
Mchochoma hails from Mangulama Village in Traditional Authority Mkanda, Mulanje District, while Dyson is from Genala Village in Traditional Authority Mwadzama, Nkhotakota District.
