Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A POLICE officer, stationed with the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit in Beitbridge, allegedly smuggled more than 40 kilogrammes of dagga and unregistered pharmaceutical medicines into Zimbabwe.
John Mashoko, 37, allegedly smuggled the contraband through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.
He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo yesterday.
He is being charged with unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs and unlawful possession of unregistered medicines.
In the alternative, he is facing a charge of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
He was remanded in custody pending bail considerations.
The State, represented by Heather Muokoto, alleged that on July 18 this year, police received information that Mashoko had smuggled dagga and pharmaceutical medicines into Zimbabwe through illegal crossing points west of the Beitbridge Border Post the previous day.
It is alleged that he used a grey Toyota Axio, registration number AEP 0557, to transport the contraband from the Limpopo River.
Acting on the information, police tracked the vehicle to Buffalo Lodge, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road, where they mounted overnight surveillance.
The court heard that at around 4am, on Sunday, Mashoko allegedly left the lodge in the company of a nurse employed at Beitbridge General Hospital.
As the pair prepared to drive away, police pounced and searched the vehicle.
Prosecutors alleged that officers recovered 40.8 kilogrammes of compressed dagga and 200 bottles of BronCleer cough syrup containing codeine concealed in the boot of the vehicle.
Mashoko and his companion were arrested, while the suspected drugs, the vehicle and two Samsung cellphones were seized.
According to the State, a preliminary examination of the seized phones allegedly revealed text messages, WhatsApp conversations and audio voice notes relating to the acquisition, transportation, distribution and sale of dagga and unregistered pharmaceutical medicines.
The recovered drugs and medicines have an estimated street value of US$50,960.
Investigations are still on going.
