News / National
Man burst with 900kg dagga
06 Mar 2013 at 06:30hrs | Views
An Epworth man who reportedly transported more than 900 kilogrammes of dagga from Mutoko to Harare yesterday appeared in court.
Rusiano Bhanti (44) of 1181 Jacha Area in Epworth evaded police along the highway before he was apprehended in Tafara by neighbourhood watch committee members. They recovered dagga weighing 990 kilogrammes with a street value of US$99 000.
Bhanti pleaded not guilty to dealing in dangerous drugs when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
Mr Ndirowei denied Bhanti bail and remanded him to March 19. Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that on February 26 this year, Bhanti connived with three accomplices who are still at large to transport dagga.
They allegedly transported 21×90 kilogramme sacks, a 50 kilogramme sack and three 'tshangani' bags containing the contraband from Mudzi, Mutoko, to Harare.
Bhanti and his accomplices loaded the dagga into an Isuzu truck with registration number ACH4303 which he was driving, the court was told.
On their way to Harare from Mutoko and while approaching Chipfumbi shops, it is alleged, they turned left and drove towards Arcturus road thereby evading police check points.
The court heard their intention was to link Epworth from Mabvuku.
On February 27 and at around 6am the truck was intercepted by members of the neighbourhood watch committee who were on patrol at Old Tafara Flats, it is alleged.
Mr Chakurira told the court that upon noticing the neighbourhood watch committee members, Bhanti's three accomplices fled into nearby maize fields leaving him alone with the truck and the contraband.
The neighbourhood watch committee members conducted a search and arrested Bhanti and seized the dagga, it is alleged.
Rusiano Bhanti (44) of 1181 Jacha Area in Epworth evaded police along the highway before he was apprehended in Tafara by neighbourhood watch committee members. They recovered dagga weighing 990 kilogrammes with a street value of US$99 000.
Bhanti pleaded not guilty to dealing in dangerous drugs when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
Mr Ndirowei denied Bhanti bail and remanded him to March 19. Prosecutor Mr Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that on February 26 this year, Bhanti connived with three accomplices who are still at large to transport dagga.
They allegedly transported 21×90 kilogramme sacks, a 50 kilogramme sack and three 'tshangani' bags containing the contraband from Mudzi, Mutoko, to Harare.
On their way to Harare from Mutoko and while approaching Chipfumbi shops, it is alleged, they turned left and drove towards Arcturus road thereby evading police check points.
The court heard their intention was to link Epworth from Mabvuku.
On February 27 and at around 6am the truck was intercepted by members of the neighbourhood watch committee who were on patrol at Old Tafara Flats, it is alleged.
Mr Chakurira told the court that upon noticing the neighbourhood watch committee members, Bhanti's three accomplices fled into nearby maize fields leaving him alone with the truck and the contraband.
The neighbourhood watch committee members conducted a search and arrested Bhanti and seized the dagga, it is alleged.
Source - TC
