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Court Reporter
An entrepreneur in Chitungwiza who put up barricades to stop police officers arresting him and 10 others on drug offences was arrested with the aid of sniffer dogs.
Blessing Muchenagumbo (33) of Unit B owns a shop trading by the name Mass Brother Shop at Unit O shopping centre.
He was arrested while in possession of 16 twists of dagga, four bottles of various prohibited tablets, five syringes, three full Bronclear bottles and 33 more empty bottles of the prohibited syrup.
Allegations against Muchenagumbo arose on Sunday at around 8pm when Constables Mashoko Chadagwara and Emmanuel Kapomba were on patrol with Officer-In-Charge Inspector Furawu and two other police officers.
Prosecutor Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa alleged that the officers were driving in Unit O when they saw Muchenagumbo and 10 other suspects inside his shop.
On approaching them, the officers saw some of the gang members smoking dagga and gulping the prohibited syrup.
Upon seeing the police, the court heard that Muchenagumbo teamed up with the rest of the men and closed all the doors.
The officers tried in vain to make him open the doors.
Mr Ndambakuwa further alleged that Muchenagumbo placed more barricades on the door and switched off the lights.
This forced the police officers to call for reinforcement from the station, including the dog section.
The police forced their way in and discovered the drugs, leading to the arrests.
Muchenagumbo was represented by Mr Phillip Hamunakwadi of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers.
He denied counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice and dealing in dangerous drugs before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini.
Mr Jarabini remanded him on US$50 bail to November 18 for trial.
Online Reporter