Emmanuel Kafe
Check Point Desk
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has intercepted seven pistols and 170 rounds of 9mm blank ammunition concealed beneath passenger seats on a South Africa-bound bus at Beitbridge Border Post, exposing another attempted smuggling operation along the country’s busiest border.
The firearms were discovered at around 3 am yesterday during a routine canine inspection of a Bulawayo-bound bus travelling from South Africa.
A ZIMRA detector dog, Poncho, alerted officers to suspicious parcels hidden beneath the first row of passenger seats, directly behind the driver’s seat.
A subsequent search uncovered two packages wrapped in black plastic and brown adhesive tape containing seven black pistols and 170 rounds of ammunition.
The bus driver reportedly acknowledged receiving the parcels in South Africa for delivery in Bulawayo but claimed he did not know what they contained.
He was subsequently taken into police custody. The seized firearms and ammunition were valued at R21 400, equivalent to approximately US$1 250, according to ZIMRA.
In a statement yesterday, the revenue authority said the interception demonstrated the importance of canine teams in detecting illicit goods and strengthening border security.
“The interception demonstrates the important role of our K9 dogs in combating smuggling of dangerous goods and other forms of illicit cross-border movement,” ZIMRA said.
The authority also warned members of the public against transporting undeclared goods across the country’s borders.
“Members of the public are urged to desist from smuggling and to use designated and authorised ports of entry when importing or exporting goods,” the statement said.
ZIMRA said failure to declare goods amounted to smuggling under Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act, potentially attracting prosecution and seizure of the goods.
The latest interception comes amid continued efforts by authorities to tighten surveillance and prevent illicit goods from entering the country through formal entry points.
“ZIMRA remains steadfast in protecting national revenue, securing the country’s borders against illicit trade, and ensuring that goods entering Zimbabwe comply with applicable customs laws and regulations,” the authority said.
