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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A South African woman was arrested at the Harare International Airport intending to smuggle ephedrine, a drug used for temporary relief of shortness of breath, chest tighteness and wheezing due to bonchial asthma, without a licence. Another South African was also arrested recently at the airport for smuggling 15kgs of the same medicine. The woman, Mosley Ngozo Magonya (36) who resides in Johannesburg, SA, appeared before magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei on Tuesday.
She is facing charges of importing ephedrine without an import permit from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).
Mr Ndirowei remanded her in custody to November 19.
Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira alleged that on October 3, detectives received information that Magonya was in possession of illicit drugs.
Acting on the tip off, the detectives liaised with immigration officers to identify Magonya.
Ms Mashavira said that the immigration official who checked Magonya’s passport alerted the detectives and they monitored Magonya from the immigration hall to the exit gate.
Magonya was apprehended about 30 minutes later and she was taken back to the arrival hall.
Her bag was searched and nothing was recovered, but her particulars were put on record and a check was made with the lost baggage counter.
The court heard that the only purple suitcase left on the luggage conveyor belt belonged to Magonya bearing tag number EK436669 and her name.
Online Reporter