News / National
Four caught trying to smuggle 2 500 Kg of mbanje
03 Aug 2016 at 01:14hrs | Views
POLICE on Sunday arrested four suspects at Nyamapanda Border Post while trying to smuggle into the country 2 500 kilogrammes of mbanje.
As of yesterday, the suspects were still assisting police with investigations. They will appear in court soon.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrests yesterday.
"On July 31, 2016, police at Nyamapanda Border Post received information pertaining to drug traffickers involving a freightliner truck. When the truck arrived at the border, the driver produced a manifesto cargo of purported 30 tonnes of wheat bran," she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials searched the truck and recovered 47 x 50kg bags (2 350kg) of mbanje stashed among bags of wheat bran.
They arrested the driver who implicated the other three suspects who had crossed the border through an illegal entry point.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to warn all those involved in illegal possession of drugs that the law will take its course. Transporters should desist from assisting individuals involved in trafficking drugs," said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
In May, unknown criminals dumped 550kg of mbanje worth thousands of dollars at Granville Cemetery, believed to have been smuggled into the country.
In January 2013, police in Harare intercepted a Malawi-registered truck carrying about 3 700kg.
As of yesterday, the suspects were still assisting police with investigations. They will appear in court soon.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrests yesterday.
"On July 31, 2016, police at Nyamapanda Border Post received information pertaining to drug traffickers involving a freightliner truck. When the truck arrived at the border, the driver produced a manifesto cargo of purported 30 tonnes of wheat bran," she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said police and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials searched the truck and recovered 47 x 50kg bags (2 350kg) of mbanje stashed among bags of wheat bran.
They arrested the driver who implicated the other three suspects who had crossed the border through an illegal entry point.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to warn all those involved in illegal possession of drugs that the law will take its course. Transporters should desist from assisting individuals involved in trafficking drugs," said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
In May, unknown criminals dumped 550kg of mbanje worth thousands of dollars at Granville Cemetery, believed to have been smuggled into the country.
In January 2013, police in Harare intercepted a Malawi-registered truck carrying about 3 700kg.
Source - Herald
