adminSamuel Kadungure : Crime Reporter
RUSAPE continues to be a no go zone for those illegally dealing in smuggled second hand clothes and shoes following the interception of three vehicles and recovery of 85 bales last week.
| The raid conducted on September 9 led to the arrest of five suspects – Nhamo Chikomo, a.k.a Svosve (38), of Number 1638, Chikanga Phase 3, Mutare, Linnaeus Muyozvi (30), of 16 Mazhambe Road, Kadoma, Alfred Tapa (24), of 203 St Mary’s Chitungwiza, Omav Ngozi (30), of 49, Harlington Rd, Hatfield Harare, Stanley Chiku (43), of 346 Devonshire, Mutare. |
They were arrested for violating Section 174 (2) (b) of the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 23:02 which criminalises failure to account for goods supposed to be accounted for.
Members of the Criminal Investigation Department in Rusape received information that there were three vehicles carrying the contraband smuggled from Mozambique using the Gandanzara-Rusape route.
The team comprising of CID Rusape Officer-in-Charge, Detective Inspector Stephen Nyamupfukudza, Detective Assistant Inspector Mazano, Detective Sergeant Chokodza and Detective constables Chitinde and Chikwature teamed up in two vehicles and laid an ambush.
The vehicles were spaced a kilometre apart along the gravel road.
The police team was on site by 8pm and after waiting for two and half hours, they spotted three vehicles in a nearby link road – the Haisvosvi-Castle Base Road – headed for Rusape.
They reacted quickly by instructing the other vehicles to speed off to Rusape and comb the vehicles using the Tiki-Tiki Road.
The other police vehicle followed the three vehicles from behind.
The two vehicles carrying the contrabands were intercepted at the 5km peg along the Tiki-Tiki Road, leading to the arrest of Chikomo, Munyozvi and Ngonzi.
The lead vehicle evaded interception and proceeded to Rusape where the contraband was offloaded into another car.
The trio of Chikomo, Munyozvi and Ngonzi offered the investigating team a bribe of $130 and four bales.
With the intention to apprehend suspects in the lead car who had evaded the roadblock, the CIDs complained that the offer was too little.
The trio contacted the crew which had escaped, Tapa and Chiku, who were then in Rusape to offload their loot and return to the scene with top-up money.
Upon return, Tapa and Chiku were arrested.
The 16 bales which they had offloaded were recovered the following day from Sekai Mutisi at House Number UVE 2736, Vengere, Rusape.
Tapa and Chiku were convicted on their own plea of guilty when they appeared before Rusape magistrate, Ms Elizabeth Hanzi.
Sentence was deferred to give the State counsel, Ms Event Dhilwayo time to verify their previous convictions.
The other crew is expected in court on September 26, 2016.
Online Reporter