Trio in the dock over drug busts

Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo

Court Correspondent

THREE suspected drug dealers have appeared separately before Harare magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa facing charges of unlawful possession of unregistered and prohibited medicines.

This came after police allegedly recovered large quantities of codeine-based cough syrups and other drugs in raids conducted in Kuwadzana and Westlea.

The accused — Lucky Kunaka (38), Alfonse Vengai Kumbirai Mushanawani and Godknows Garaise (21) — were remanded in custody over the weekend and are expected to apply for bail this week.

According to the State, Kunaka was arrested in the early hours of May 23, 2026, following a police operation in Kuwadzana 1.

Officers who were conducting surveillance reportedly received information linking him to the illegal trade in dangerous drugs and unregistered medicines.

Acting on the tip-off, police went to his residence at around 12:40am and conducted a search.

During the raid, police allegedly recovered 144 bottles of 100ml Astra Pain containing 5mg of codeine phosphate and 12.5 percent alcohol, as well as 24 bottles of 100ml Benylin with codeine.

Kunaka was subsequently arrested.

In a separate incident on May 21, 2026, police allegedly received information that Mushanawani was selling dangerous drugs from a black Mercedes-Benz vehicle, which he was reportedly using as a mobile distribution point and hideout.

At around 8:40pm, officers located the vehicle parked at N. Richards Shopping Centre in Westlea, Harare, and approached him before conducting a search.

Police allegedly recovered 400 bottles of 100ml BronCleer containing 10mg of codeine phosphate and 96.5 percent alcohol, 120 bottles of 100ml Astra Pain containing 5mg of codeine phosphate and 12.5 percent alcohol, as well as US$2 932 suspected to be proceeds of the illicit trade.

Mushanawani was arrested and the vehicle, medicines and cash were seized.

In a third case, police arrested Garaise on May 23, 2026, at around midnight after acting on information that he was also dealing in illegal drugs from his residence in Kuwadzana 1.

A search at the premises allegedly led to the recovery of 22 bottles of 100ml Benylin with codeine, resulting in his arrest.