Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
A JOINT crackdown by the police, Zimra, alcohol brewers and other key players is finally paying off, with authorities reporting a notable drop in smuggling cases.
The intensive multi-agency operation targeting cross-border smuggling syndicates has, over the past months, intercepted several truckloads of illicit goods, most of them alcohol and drugs, being moved into the country ahead of the festive season.
The joint crackdown, involving other security stakeholders, has unearthed highly co-ordinated networks that authorities say have been feeding the local market with cheap, hazardous and untaxed beverages.
The increased movement of people and goods during the holidays has historically provided fertile ground for smuggling cartels.
However, this year, the police say they are determined to disrupt the well-oiled machinery that thrives on bribery, forged documents and nighttime border crossings at undesignated points.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said law enforcement agents had already confiscated substantial consignments of counterfeit and tax-evading alcohol at various roadblocks and border checkpoints.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police, working closely with Zimra and other security agencies, has intensified operations to combat the smuggling of goods, particularly alcohol and drugs, which poses serious risks to public health and safety,” he said.
“We have noted that certain criminal groups seek to capitalise on the festive period to push illicit products onto the market. Let it be known that police are on high alert and offenders will face the full wrath of the law,” said Comm Nyathi.
He said some of the seized goods were concealed in false compartments of haulage trucks, while others were transported in private vehicles using forged import documents.
Comm Nyathi said several arrests have already been made, with more suspects expected to appear in court as investigations continue.
He said the smuggled alcohol, much of it counterfeit or substandard, posed a significant threat to consumers, particularly youths who are often drawn to the cheaper options sold on the streets and in backyard drinking spots.
“The public must understand that illicit alcohol is not only dangerous because it is untaxed, but many of these products are also manufactured in unsanitary conditions using harmful chemicals.
“We are urging citizens to purchase beverages from licensed outlets and to avoid cheap, suspicious brands whose origins cannot be verified,” said Comm Nyathi.
He said investigations link the counterfeit goods and products to a regional syndicate that operates across South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Comm Nyathi said the joint operation is strengthening surveillance technologies and increasing joint patrols with other stakeholders.
“Smuggling deprives the nation of millions in revenue. This is money that should be going to essential services such as hospitals, schools and infrastructure. We are escalating our operations because the economic cost is too high to ignore,” said Comm Nyathi.
Apart from revenue losses, he said, there is a concern about the rise in fake alcohol laboratories sprouting across the region.
Comm Nyathi said these makeshift factories often use industrial chemicals and recycled bottles, producing highly toxic beverages linked to cases of blindness, liver damage and sudden deaths.
He warned that the police would not hesitate to arrest business owners, transporters, and individuals found colluding with smugglers.
“No one is above the law. Whether you are a truck driver, a businessperson, or part of an organised group, if you assist these syndicates, you will be arrested.
“We are appealing to communities, especially those living near border areas, to report suspicious activities and movements,” said Comm Nyathi.
The festive season traditionally brings increased consumption of alcohol, and with it, a spike in related crimes such as violence, road accidents and risky behaviour.
Comm Nyathi said eliminating counterfeit and smuggled spirits is part of a broader strategy to protect the public as celebrations reach their peak.
He said that in the pursuit of cheap drinks, unsuspecting citizens may be exposing themselves to lethal substances disguised as premium imports.
“The operation will continue throughout the festive period and beyond, until smuggling syndicates are dismantled and our communities are safe.
“The message is clear —this festive season, the long arm of the law is watching, and smugglers may find the criminal route far costlier than they bargained for,” said Comm Nyathi.
