Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
Herald Reporter
IN a major bust on Tuesday, 11 individuals, five men and six women were arrested for possessing 200 kilogrammes of mbanje.
The suspects were intercepted while travelling on a long-distance bus from a neighbouring country, along Bulawayo Road, en-route to Harare.
Authorities discovered the mbanje concealed in parcels wrapped in thick plastic and disguised under blankets in the cargo area.
Alongside the drugs, police found boxes of illicit beverages, also covered with blankets and oddly sprayed with perfume, likely an attempt to mask their contents.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrests, sending a stern warning to drug dealers, producers and transporters engaged in illicit activities.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of 11 suspects involved in drug peddling and trafficking,” Comm Nyathi said.
“Our Criminal Investigations Drugs and Narcotics section acted on credible information, leading to this successful operation.”
Commissioner Nyathi elaborated on the deceptive packaging.
“The drugs were arranged in such a cunning manner that one would assume they were merely blankets. The presence of both men and women among the suspects suggests the existence of a well-organised syndicate.”
He issued a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug-related crime.
“There is no turning back in our fight against drugs and substances.
“They affect people of all ages and no one is spared. The abuse of drugs has been linked to a rise in serious crimes, including robbery, murder and rape.”
The commissioner noted that drug-related arrests occur weekly and pledged that law enforcement will relentlessly pursue all criminals involved in this trade.
In a separate, yet unconfirmed incident, more than 500 kilogrammes of mbanje were reportedly recovered at a border post. Authorities have been actively destroying seized mbanje and crushing all bottles of illicit beverages, valued at thousands of United States dollars, to prevent them from re-entering the market.
Recently, apprehended suspects were also found with mbanje disguised in peculiar ways.
Some attempts included hiding the drugs in a coffin and burying them among bags of baking flour, underscoring the lengths to which traffickers will go.
The police’s commitment remains clear: the war on drugs is far from over, and they will continue to work diligently to eradicate this scourge from society.
