13 prisoners escape after drunk detective opened cells and told inmates they were free to go, Zambia police say

Thirteen suspected criminals are on the loose in Zambia after a tipsy detective unlocked jail cells on New Year's Eve and told inmates they were free to go, police said Friday.

The detective "in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys" from Constable Serah Banda and "unlocked both the male and female cells and instructed the suspects to leave, stating they were free to cross over into the New Year", a police statement said.

All but two of the 15 suspects in the jail at the time escaped when the cells were opened on the morning of December 31.