admin
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE trial of a 27-year-old woman from Beitbridge recently arrested for allegedly smuggling 104kg of mbanje and 50 x 100ml of prohibited cough syrup from South Africa has been set for November 20.
Vesca Macheke of Tshidixwa suburb (old medium) allegedly intended to transport to Harare on an inter-city bus The contraband concealed under blankets is worth over US$11 000.
The arrest is part of the ongoing operation “No to cross-border crimes”.
She was initially set to stand trial at the Beitbridge Magistrates Court charged with unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs and contravening a section of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act before the case was moved to a regional magistrate.
Yesterday, Beitbridge regional magistrate Mr innocent Bepura set the trial date for November 20.
Macheke is already out of custody on US$300 bail pending trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya said on September 10, Macheke allegedly smuggled the mbanje and cough syrup from Musina, South Africa. Upon arrival in Beitbridge town, Macheke took the contraband to Dulivhadzimu bus terminus and placed the packages in an inter-city bus intending to transport them to Harare. She ran out of luck when security agents acting on a tip-off pounced on the bus before it could leave Beitbridge.
A search of the bus led to the discovery of 53 cobs of mbanje worth US$10 371, and 50 x 100ml bottles of Bronclear cough syrup worth US$300. She was immediately arrested and the contraband was seized.
The development comes a few months after the Government established four ZRP drugs and narcotics units at Beitbridge, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, and Forbes in Mutare border posts.
Inland posts have also been established at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Victoria Falls international airports. New technologies like drones are also being used to monitor the country’s borders in addition to traditional surveillance methods to reduce the smuggling and trafficking of drugs.
Online Reporter