Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Police in Beitbridge have arrested 913 people for drug-related offences between January and October this year as the fight against drug and substance abuse intensifies.
Chairperson of the Beitbridge Supply Reduction Pillar under the national fight against drugs and substance abuse, Detective Assistant Inspector Netty Mutsengi, who is the Member-In-Charge Drugs and Narcotics, said 723 of the offenders have already been convicted and are serving various sentences, while other cases are still pending.
Det Asst Insp Mutsengi was giving an update to a team from the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland South led by Acting Director Coordination Ms Sikhangezile Ndlovu.
She said the arrests were made under Tuli, Zezani, Beitbridge Urban and Beitbridge Rural policing areas.
During the same period, police recovered marijuana worth US$33,826 and restricted or unregistered medicines worth US$60,529 that were being smuggled into the country.
Det Asst Insp Mutsengi said the police were using baggage and cargo scanners, drone technology, the canine section and intelligence-led operations to bust suspects and make interceptions within Beitbridge town and along the border with South Africa.
“Investigations reveal that most of the contraband is destined for other towns in the country, with a small fraction being consumed locally,” she said.
She said that while intercepting hard drugs remains a challenge because they are transported in small quantities concealed in carry-on luggage, police are working in collaboration with other stations and relying on intelligence from members of the community.
Det Asst Insp Mutsengi said some syndicates were using buses to transport the contraband, while in some cases drugs are intercepted with third parties, forcing police to track the actual recipients.
“Collaboration with other players has contributed to some major interceptions,” she said.
Det Asst Insp Mutsengi said the police have also intensified awareness campaigns across Beitbridge’s 21 wards, with at least 54 campaigns conducted so far in the district.
The government has declared drug and substance abuse a national scourge and is implementing a multi-sectoral approach to curb supply and demand.
