In a bizarre turn of events, a drunk detective in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody to celebrate the New Year before fleeing the scene, officials have revealed.

Detective Inspector Titus Phiri was arrested after he reportedly unlocked the cells at Leonard Cheelo Police Station in Lusaka and instructed the detainees to leave, claiming they were free to “cross over into the New Year.”

The 13 suspects, accused of crimes including assault, robbery, and burglary, are now on the run. A manhunt has been launched to recapture them.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga disclosed that Phiri, “in a state of intoxication,” forcibly took the cell keys from Constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve. Out of 15 detainees, 13 managed to escape.

Phiri has not commented on the allegations.

Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere described the scenario as “comical” but drew parallels to a similar incident in 1997. At the time, a controversial High Court judge ordered the release of 53 suspects who had been detained since 1992 without trial, citing the principle, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Authorities continue efforts to apprehend both the escaped suspects and the officer responsible for the incident.