Zambian police say 13 inmates escaped after a drunken detective opened the cells and told the inmates they were free to go.

Thirteen suspected criminals have been released in Zambia after a drunken detective opened prison cells on New Year’s Eve and told inmates they were free to go out, police said Friday.

The interrogator “in a drunken state, forcefully seized the cell keys” from Constable Sera Banda and “opened the male and female cells and ordered the suspects to leave, saying they were free to cross into the new year,” Police statement He said.

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

“The suspects are still at large,” police spokesman Ray Hamunga told AFP on Friday.

“Many of the suspects face charges of serious crimes, including assault, robbery and burglary. Allowing them to remain at large could pose a significant risk to public safety,” he said.

The investigator fled the scene but was arrested shortly after.

“The Zambia Police Service has intensified its efforts to locate and arrest the fugitives,” the police said in a statement. “We appeal to citizens who have any information that may help in locating the suspects to report to the nearest police station.”

As of Monday, police had not provided any update on the escaped prisoners.