Zimbabweans arrested in USA for organised crime

Three Zimbabweans were on Thursday arrested in the United States and charged with engaging in organized crime.

Nehanda Radio reported that Kudakwashe Mushauri, 24, Munashe Maramba, 24, and Brian Chihota, 25 were arrested by officers from The Colony Police Department (TCPD) at the Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Also arrested on the same day was Dayo Anisulowo, 28, who was charged with identity theft.

Sources said the Zimbabwean trio was well known in the community for their flamboyant lifestyles, including regular trips to strip clubs where they splashed thousands of dollars on strippers and expensive drinks.

A source said "one of their friends a well known affiliate that goes by the name 7figga-Simba was not arrested and he always gets lucky. The same happened when other Zimbabweans were arrested for tax fraud he got lucky again.

"Some speculate that 7figga-Simba sells out the others that is why he never gets arrested while his friends get arrested. He calls himself 7figga-Simba because he say he makes 7 figures a year implying a million dollars," our source added.

The Colony Police Department meanwhile says all four suspects should be treated as innocent until charges against them are proven in court.

Just last month British broadcaster ITV 1 ran a documentary "Fraud Squad" exposing how a criminal gang of Zimbabweans pulled off the largest ever fake cheque fraud in the United Kingdom.

Last year in October Zimbabweans Onias Hove, 43 of Barnsley, and Charles Nyongo, 43 of Hunslet, Leeds, were sent to prison for a total of 9 years.

The two led an organised criminal gang responsible for stealing and fraudulently manufacturing bank cheques. Another ringleader Charles Kanyimo pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud and received a reduced sentence of 15 months.

Fellow Zimbabweans in the UK had to watch in shame as the ITV documentary revealed how the police "Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit" (DCPCU) seized £6.5 million worth of stolen and fake cheques.