adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
POLICE in Masvingo have arrested a suspected drug peddler found in possession of 103kg of mbanje with a street value of $10,300 at a roadblock in a Bulawayo bound vehicle.Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said the suspect, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested on Sunday at around 11AM and was is in police custody assisting with investigations.
He said two other suspected accomplices were on the run after they took to their heels when their vehicle was stopped.
The police spokesperson said the three men were aboard a Bulawayo-bound Toyota Vitz when they were stopped by traffic police officers manning a road block at Roy junction.
“When one of our officers stopped the vehicle, he asked for a driver’s licence before proceeding to search the vehicle. Upon searching, the officer stumbled on a consignment of 50kg sacks behind the driver’s seat. The police officer became suspicious and asked the trio to take out the consignment,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.
Sensing danger, two passengers stormed out of the car and took to their heels. The driver followed them but police who were in hot pursuit arrested him.
“The suspect was apprehended after running for a kilometre. Further investigations revealed that the consignment was mbanje stuffed in 50kg sacks. The suspect is in police custody and will appear in court soon. His accomplices are still at large and the long arm of the law will catch up with them soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mwenezi police who were investigating a rape case on Friday last week arrested a Mwenezi couple for allegedly cultivating 80 plants of mbanje in their garden.
Each plant was about three metres high.
Asst Insp Dehwa said police arrived at Makala Village under Chief Mazetese in connection with a case of rape and received a tip off that Comess Magusvu, 38 and his wife Esina Mapani, 44, were cultivating mbanje in their garden.
“They arrived at Tsungirirai Secondary School near Magusvu’s homestead after which they took him to his garden in the company of Mapani. Upon reaching the garden, they saw about 80 plants of mbanje measuring between 45cm and 270cm before arresting the couple,” he said.
He said the mbanje plants were uprooted and taken to Mwenezi police station.
Online Reporter