Online Reporter
Lesley Chikudo, [email protected]
A Tanzanian national who allegedly attempted to smuggle crystal meth worth nearly US$1 million into Zimbabwe has appeared in court on charges of possessing specially restricted substances.
Suleiman Amour (44) was arrested following the interception of a truck he was travelling in. The haulage truck, which was towing a trailer, was carrying Amour’s two accomplices, who are still on the run.
Amour appeared before Western Commonage Regional Magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze last Friday, but his trial did not proceed and was postponed to April 7 to allow the court to secure the services of a Kiswahili interpreter.
The prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo, said Amour entered Zimbabwe through the Mozambique border en route to South Africa, carrying a consignment of drugs destined for the neighbouring country.
“On October 23 last year, police officers from Nkulumane Police Station were manning a roadblock at the 18-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo to Plumtree road when they intercepted a South African-registered MAN truck,” said Mr Moyo.
The truck, which was being driven by one Frank Robert Mwakalinga, a Tanzanian national, had Amour and one O Bekwa, a South African national, aboard.
Upon requesting a search of the vehicle as a formality, police instructed the driver to open the loading box. The driver then handed the ignition keys to Amour, who unlocked the compartment.
“During the search, officers noticed white lunch boxes stashed in a false compartment on the roof of the truck. When questioned, the accused took one lunch box, opened it, and ate cooked spaghetti in front of the officers,” said Mr Moyo.
Further investigations led to the discovery of 192kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of US$987 000, concealed inside multiple lunch boxes.
Realising they had been exposed, Mwakalinga and Bekwa fled the scene, leaving Amour behind. Police managed to apprehend Amour, leading to his arrest.
Investigations are ongoing to track down the fugitives.
