Online Reporter
Court Reporter
A COUPLE believed to be part of a drug trafficking cartel was back in court Tuesday and was remanded in custody until January 2 for its bail ruling.
The couple, Brenda Sango and Tinashe Jamu, and their accomplices, Lungani Freedom Ndlovu and Clarence Ncube of Emganwini, Bulawayo, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Jessie Kufa.
The quartet was initially brought to court on December 20.
Allegations are that on December 18, detectives from CID Drugs and narcotics received information to the effect that the quartet was dealing in and in possession of unregistered medicines at number 9544 South View Park, Harare.
Acting on the tip-off, the police went to the address and found Sango. Searches were conducted in the garage, leading to the recovery of 210 boxes of Broncleer cough syrups.
Further searches were done in a backyard room, leading to the recovery of 12 boxes of Broncleer cough syrups, 22 boxes of Astra Pain cough syrups, 600 by 100ml bottles of Broncleer cough syrups and 1150 by 100ml bottles of Astra Pain cough syrups, medicines which are not registered in Zimbabwe, leading to the arrest of Brenda Sango.
Upon being interviewed, Sango allegedly indicated that the contraband belonged to her husband, Jamu.
She implicated Ndlovu and Ncube as the ones who had delivered the unregistered cough syrups to her house, which led to the trio’s arrest.
In opposing bail, prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti argued that all four are not suitable candidates for bail because they all have similar pending cases at Mbare Magistrates Court and at Harare Magistrate’s Court, proving that they have the propensity to commit crimes of the same nature.
The State alleged that they are part of a bigger illicit drug cartel ring, as shown by their travel records that prove their frequent visits to South Africa.
They argued that their connections and potential financial means could facilitate their travelling, undermining the integrity of the investigations and trial process.
