adminThe four, who were allegedly masquerading as policemen, robbed a smuggler of cigarettes worth $16 170.
A member of the gang who was allegedly working with the smuggler reportedly tipped his partners in crime that they would be smuggling 80 boxes of Remmington Gold and Mega brands of cigarettes into neighbouring Botswana, in a Dyna Truck.
They waylaid the smuggler and robbed him of R9 500 in cash, the truck, cigarettes and a Nokia 6210 cellphone at gunpoint.
They then dumped him in a bush along Solusi Road before driving off with their loot.
Cigarettes worth $9 000 were recovered following the arrest of the accused men.
The accused have been identified as Nkosilathi Mketiwa (29), Mgcini Ndlovu (29), Nyasha Mutandi, all of Magwegwe North suburb, and Willard Mutekwa (38) of Gwabalanda.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) co-ordinator for Matabeleland, Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, confirmed the arrests yesterday.
He said the suspects would appear in court soon.
A relative of the Harare-based smuggler, who declined to be named, said the man was hired by a friend from the capital on 4 December. “The friend wanted him to smuggle 80 boxes of cigarettes into Botswana. They met in Bulawayo on the same night and he was given a Dyna Truck that was filled with the cigarettes. He asked Mutekwa to accompany him on the smuggling trip,” said the relative.
The relative said unknown to the smuggler, Mutekwa alerted his three friends with whom he always committed armed robberies about the deal.
“He was driving with Mutekwa along the Bulawayo Solusi Road, on their way to Botswana, when the three friends approached them in a car with South African registration. They stopped them and said they were police officers. They ordered Mutekwa and my relative out of the car at gunpoint,” said the relative.
“They searched my relative and relieved him of R9 500 and his cellphone before bundling him into the backseat of their car and drove towards Bulawayo. They then left him at a bush near Emganwini suburb.”
The relative said the smuggler walked to Nkulumane Police Station where he made a report in the early hours of 5 December.
“The truck was found intact at Kelvin industrial area the next day, without the cigarettes and a sail that had been used to cover them.
“We heard that police arrested a woman who was looking for buyers for a large quantity of cigarettes on Wednesday and that she implicated the four men leading to their arrest. We were shocked to discover that
Mutekwa was part of the gang,” said the relative.
Asst Comm Makodza said 28 boxes of cigarettes, a toy pistol and the sail were recovered.
“The four suspects are out on bail for four armed robbery cases. We want to warn criminals that we are fully prepared for the festive season and we are out in full force to deal decisively with all illegal activities. Miscreants will be brought to book,” said Asst Comm Makodza.
He encouraged members of the public to continue working with the police to eradicate crime by reporting any suspicious activities and crime to the police.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo