Chronicle EditorNyore Madzianike and Tendai Gukutikwa
POLICE from the Minerals and Border Control Unit yesterday intercepted two haulage trucks loaded with 466 bales of second-hand clothing with an estimated value of $233 000, which were being smuggled from Mozambique. The trucks were intercepted near Odzi River en-route to the capital along Harare-Mutare Road.
Fulton Dolobo (34) and Malvin Mari (35) both of Kambuzuma, Emmanuel Mupona (32) of Highfield and Brian Muchenje (31) have been arrested and are expected to appear in court tomorrow.
Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda confirmed the arrests.
“Police from the Minerals and Border Control Unit received information to the effect that there were trucks with bales, which were heading to Harare. A team of seven police officers made a follow-up. At around 4am, police spotted the trucks near Romeo’s Meats near the tollgate,” he said.
Asst Insp Chananda said one of the suspects, who was driving a Toyota Lexus ADA 2978 attempted to block the police team’s vehicle as they closed in on the first truck with smuggled clothing.
He said as police fired shots towards the truck, the driver of the Lexus intentionally rammed into the police vehicle in a bid to block their way.
“The team of police officers, however, managed to intercept the other truck, as it was about to reach Odzi River. An IVECO
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Police bust used clothes smuggling ring
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registration number ADV 4595 was also intercepted and the driver could not account for the load. Another truck with a DAF CF container, registration number AEL 3517, white in colour was also intercepted after Odzi River after police fired shots and deflated its tyres. Two people were arrested from that vehicle,” Asst Insp Chananda said.
Meanwhile, another vehicle was intercepted in a separate incident and was found loaded with 11 bales of second hand clothes and nine bales of shoes. The goods valued at $9 602, 50.
The vehicle, which was subsequently impounded and held at Mutare Central Police Station, was also heading to Harare.
These arrests came in the wake of calls by Mutare magistrate Perseverance Makala to impose stiffer penalties against people caught smuggling second-hand clothes into the country.
Mr Makala made the call while sentencing Brighton Chipepera (44) of Chikanga, Mutare who was taken to court for attempting to smuggle US$10 000 worth of second-hand clothes into the country from Mozambique.
Chipepera was ordered to pay a fine of US$500 on or before September 30, 2017 or risks being jailed for two months.
The second-hand clothes were forfeited to the State.
The State had it that on August 31, 2017 at midnight, Chipepera was intercepted by police who were deployed to undertake the Anti-smuggling operation at Romeo’s turn-off while driving his Nissan Caravan-ADY 6206- heading towards Harare along the Harare-Mutare road.
Constables Makina, Chingirandi and Mutede searched the vehicle and recovered the smuggled goods.
Brighton Shamuyarira prosecuted.
Online Reporter