Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent
A TRUCK driver at Pogba Transport and Logistics appeared in court yesterday after he was arrested while transporting a consignment of dagga worth US$1,2 million from Beitbridge to Harare.
Thompson Ndou (58), from Dulibadzimu, Beitbridge, was facing charges of unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.
The State opposed the granting of bail to Ndou.
In opposing bail, the State called the arresting officer, Detective Assistant Inspector Simbi Padzakashamba of police intelligence, who concurred that Ndou was not a suitable candidate for bail.
It is the State’s case that in June 2026 at around 7pm, police received information that Ndou was driving a 30-tonne haulage truck (registration number AFJ 2961) towing a trailer (registration number AGK 0535), transporting a metal container carrying a consignment of dagga from Beitbridge to Harare.
The information further indicated that the dagga had been packed into various packages concealed inside the container.
Acting on the information, police mounted an operation and intercepted Ndou’s vehicle at Ligi Restaurant truck stop, opposite Swift Company in Southerton, Harare.
Police approached the vehicle and identified Ndou seated behind the steering wheel.
A search was conducted in the metal container, resulting in the recovery of numerous sealed cubic plastic packages containing compressed dagga.
The court heard that Ndou was subsequently arrested and taken to the police station for further management.
Police issued Ndou with exhibit seizure confirmation receipts stating that they had recovered and seized the exhibits from his possession.
The seized exhibits comprised the compressed dagga, the haulage truck, the trailer, the metal container and a Samsung Galaxy A55 cellphone.
It is alleged that on June 2, 2026, the recovered dagga was weighed at the Zimpost Harare Main Post Office in the presence of the accused and was found to have a total mass of 1 094.20 kg.
The recovered dagga has an estimated street value of US$1 200 000.
