Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Writer
THREE Bulawayo men appeared in court after being found in possession of more than 400 bottles of cough syrup, valued at over US$2 000, without the required medical permit.
Walter Banga (48) of Gwabalanda suburb, together with Phumulani Londe (43) and Themba Thebe (43), both of Emakhandeni suburb, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube, facing charges of unlawful possession of medicine.
They were remanded in custody to today for bail application.
The prosecutor, Ms Catherine Kuzu, told the court that the offence was discovered on September 9.
Acting on a tip-off that a man named Ntokozo Tshuma allegedly kept an unregistered firearm at his Emakhandeni home, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) proceeded to the property around midday.
“On arrival, they met Londe and explained their mission before searching in his presence. While no firearm was recovered, detectives discovered 96 bottles of Benylin cough syrup and 330 bottles of Astra Pain cough syrup containing codeine,” said Ms Kuzu.
Upon being questioned by detectives, Londe implicated Thebe, who admitted to owning the consignment. Thebe, in turn, pointed to Banga, a cross-border transporter, as being involved in the case.
The trio was subsequently arrested and the entire consignment valued at US$2 130 on the street was seized.
