Police officer arrested over drug dealings

A Gwanda-based detective and his female accomplice were arrested along the Beitbridge–Masvingo highway for allegedly transporting marijuana and banned cough syrups believed to have been smuggled from South Africa.

Leonard Mashava (35) and Oprah Nomagugu Ndavambi (27) were apprehended on January 3 during a routine anti-smuggling check at the Bubi security checkpoint while traveling towards Masvingo. The duo appeared before Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Monday, facing charges under the Criminal Law Reform and Codification Act and the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act. Both were remanded in custody to January 19.

Prosecutor Mr Willbrought Muleya told the court that the arrest occurred at around 4 pm near the Lion and Elephant Motel, at the 80-kilometre peg along the Beitbridge–Masvingo Road. The accused were traveling in a silver Toyota Hilux, with Mashava driving and Ndavambi in the passenger seat, when they were stopped by members of the National Task Force at a roadblock.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of seven boxes containing a total of 155 cobs of marijuana wrapped in black plastic. Further searches uncovered 14 boxes of unregistered cough syrups, including 1 050 bottles of 100ml Astra pain cough syrup and 1 600 bottles of 100ml Broncleer cough syrup. The medicines have a street value of approximately US$13 250, while the value of the marijuana is yet to be determined. All seized contraband is now in police custody.

Authorities said the Government has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee to coordinate strategies addressing drug and substance abuse nationwide. In addition, four Zimbabwe Republic Police Drugs and Narcotics Units have been set up at major border posts in Beitbridge, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, and Mutare. The authorities are also employing drones alongside traditional surveillance methods to monitor borders and curb the smuggling and trafficking of illicit drugs.