Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
FOUR men, including one from Eswatini, have appeared in court for allegedly smuggling an assortment of prohibited cough syrups worth US$3 500 into Zimbabwe via an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River.
Leeroy Zano (28) and Tinotenda Zano (18), both of Harare, Tanaka Chauke (25) of Chivi, and Khanyamezwe Dhlamini from Eswatini appeared before Beitbridge resident magistrate, Ms Patience Madondo, facing charges of contravening the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Regulations (unlawful possession of prescription preparations). They were remanded in custody to today.
The court heard that the quartet had filled 25-litre containers with Broncleer cough syrup, which contains codeine — a banned substance in Zimbabwe. They were apprehended by alert security personnel conducting patrols as part of an anti-smuggling operation.
Prosecuting, Mr Tawanda Chigavazira told the court that on October 2, police on patrol intercepted the suspects shortly after they crossed into Zimbabwe through an illegal point along the Limpopo River.
Upon searching them, police discovered two 25-litre containers of Broncleer and 699 empty bottles concealed in suitcases. The bottles were allegedly intended for repackaging the contraband for resale. The four men failed to produce a licence authorising them to possess the substance, leading to their arrest and the seizure of the unregistered medicines.
The Government has intensified its crackdown on drug peddlers and smugglers amid a surge in substance abuse cases, particularly among youths.
Drug and substance abuse has become a growing concern across Zimbabwe, with border towns such as Beitbridge emerging as key transit points for smuggled illicit substances. Authorities report that cough syrups like Broncleer, which contain codeine, have flooded the informal market, especially in urban areas, where they are consumed for their intoxicating effects.
Through the National Drug Master Plan (2020–2025), the Government has ramped up operations targeting the supply and distribution networks of such substances. In recent months, police, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), have intensified joint patrols along the Limpopo River and other porous border points to curb cross-border trafficking.
Health experts have warned that abuse of codeine-based cough syrups can lead to addiction, respiratory complications, and mental health issues, particularly among young people. The crackdown forms part of a broader Government campaign to combat drug abuse and safeguard public health.
