Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
CRIMINALS are increasingly concealing dangerous drugs and unregistered medicines inside corpses and coffins in an effort to smuggle them past border posts, particularly at Beitbridge Border Post.
So far, authorities have arrested several suspects following searches by law enforcement agents.
In some cases, smugglers have used fake burial orders and empty coffins to transport the contraband.
Other concealment methods have also been uncovered.
In one incident, police arrested Mtonga Fumu (44) and Dereck Lonje (43) for the unlawful possession of unregistered medicines.
The two were travelling in a Toyota Hilux towing a trailer carrying five coffins containing bodies, along with various groceries.
A search revealed 26 boxes of Benylin Cough Syrup, three boxes of Astra Pain Cough Syrup, and two boxes of Bronclear Cough Syrup hidden inside the coffins, according to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
In another case, four cross‑border transporters — Charles Bhebhe (30), James Sibanda (23), Nevson Nhamo (39) and Sifelani Nkiwane (42) — were arrested after presenting a fake burial order at Beitbridge Border Post.
Detectives stopped their South African‑registered omnibus and trailer, which bore Clairmont Funeral Parlour stickers, at the 110‑kilometre peg along the Masvingo–Beitbridge Highway on March 6.
Inside an empty coffin, police found:
• 2 250 × 100ml bottles of Broncleer
• 2 400 × 100ml bottles of Benylin syrup
• 480 × 100ml bottles of Astrapain cough syrup
• 100 × 100ml bottles of Salterpyn cough syrup
The suspects could not produce an import licence. Two other suspects, Wisdom Munyonga (37) and Tendai Gwainda (38), were intercepted at Beitbridge Border Post in a Volvo FH truck.
Officers discovered 13 boxes of Broncleer, 40 boxes of Benylin, and 44 boxes of Astra Pain Cough Syrup concealed under the trailer’s chassis.
Meanwhile, on March 20, 2026, police in Beitbridge arrested Mathew Sakabvundura (42), a passenger on a cross‑border bus, for unlawful possession of 11 cobs of mbanje (cannabis).
Two days earlier, Simelinkosi Sibanda (40) and Thaboluhle Mpofu (37) were arrested at S’khulu Village in Plumtree after 448 sachets of mbanje were found stashed in a 20‑litre bucket.
On March 18, 2026, police in Chegutu stopped a truck at the 114‑kilometre peg along the Harare–Bulawayo Road and arrested a foreign national, Mkendwa Kibwana Hassani (33), for unlawful possession of dagga.
Twelve bales weighing 130 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of US$13 000, were recovered.
In Beitbridge, on March 19, 2026, Ndandatho Manyewu (48) was arrested at New Bridge along the Limpopo River with 17 kilogrammes of mbanje hidden in washing‑powder cardboard boxes.
Last week, police dismantled a drug‑peddling syndicate involving 11 suspects — both men and women — who were trafficking approximately 200 kilogrammes of mbanje and other illicit substances.
The group was intercepted while travelling from Beitbridge; the contraband had been packaged to resemble blankets to avoid detection. Unregistered medicines were also seized.
Commissioner Nyathi reiterated that the Zimbabwe Republic Police remains committed to the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
“All individuals involved in the illegal production, transportation and distribution of drugs will be arrested and brought before the courts,” he said.
