'Drug Trafficker' jumps off moving truck

A haulage truck driver allegedly carrying drugs worth more than US$5 000 escaped after jumping from his moving vehicle when detectives intercepted him near Exor in Masvingo around midnight on Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as Dzikamai Chimunda of Harare, allegedly abandoned the Bindura Haulage Pvt Ltd truck after detectives ordered him to pull over and attempted to search the vehicle.

Chimunda reportedly slowed down the Freightliner truck before jumping into nearby bushes and disappearing.

Detectives managed to stop the unmanned truck before it could crash into other vehicles.

The truck, registered AEG 5856 and towing two trailers, was subsequently searched, leading to the recovery of drugs valued at more than US$5 000, including Broncleer and dagga.

Masvingo Deputy Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Masauso Patinyu said he was yet to receive details of the incident.

According to sources, Chimunda contacted his employers on Thursday morning and reportedly informed them that he was resigning from his job and had abandoned the truck in Masvingo.

The incident reportedly followed a tip-off received by detectives that Chimunda was transporting drugs.

Police intercepted the truck near Exor and requested to search it, but Chimunda allegedly accelerated away.

He later slowed down, jumped from the moving vehicle and fled into the nearby bush.

The truck was eventually brought to a stop by detectives, who proceeded to conduct a search.

The recovered substances reportedly included Broncleer and cannabis, with their combined street value estimated at more than US$5 000.

Chimunda remains at large, and police are continuing efforts to locate and arrest him.