Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
An Indian national has appeared in court after he was allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 6 597,97 carats of diamonds through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Bharat Keshibha Marani (52) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa on Monday facing three counts of smuggling, dealing in precious stones without a licence and violation of the Immigration Act.
Marani was remanded in custody pending bail application. Marani is a regular visitor to Zimbabwe, and on this occasion he arrived on June 18, 2026, on a holiday visa.
It is alleged that on July 30 this year, the accused person arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport intending to fly back to India aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight.
He was carrying a suitcase bag, and he did all the necessary formalities of handing over his suitcase to authorities and checking in.
The suitcase was then conveyed to the Zero Point scanning area, where it was scanned by an Aviation Company of Zimbabwe officer, Colleta Machiwana, and she noticed that there was a suspicious container in the suitcase.
Detectives from CID Minerals who were present were alerted, and they then summoned the accused, who had already boarded the plane.
Matani was asked to open his suitcase bag, and inside the bag there was a silver container which had a thick black paste in it.
Detectives then observed that there were 12 plastic satchets inside the container covered by the black paste.
Further observations by detectives revealed that the satchets contained diamonds. The accused was asked to produce documents allowing him to have diamonds in his possession and to take them out of the country, and he failed to do so and was arrested.
The satchets were then taken to Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe for assaying, which was done by Ranganai Chipfere and a total of 1 400 grammes of diamonds and 6597.97 carats was obtained and are valued at US $62 456,91.
It is further alleged that upon entry into the country, Marani was granted a holiday visa stamped in his Indian passport number 26619477 and was supposed to depart Zimbabwe on or before July 17, 2026, and he failed to do so.
