Cops intensify crackdown on drug dealers, smugglers

A number of drug peddlers and smugglers have been arrested countrywide as police intensify the fight against such people.

Some of the people were arrested at airports and others at various places countrywide after raids were carried out.

Last Friday, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics in Beitbridge swiftly reacted to a tip-off and arrested Dumisani Bweriniga (38) for unlawful possession of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of $8 000.

Similarly, on Saturday, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics in Harare also received information and arrested Devine Sena (37) at a house in Helensvale for illegally dealing in dangerous drugs and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The suspect was found in possession of 10g of cocaine and a LLAMA pistol.

Recently, a 61-year-old foreigner was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on allegations of trying to smuggle 7,7kg of heroin to India.

The suspect, Gowada Nabin Chandra, had intended to board an Ethiopian Airline when he was searched at the airport leading to the recovery of the dangerous drugs.

In another case, police in Beitbridge arrested a 15-year-old male after he was found in possession of 200g of dagga at the Beitbridge Border Post on October 23, 2022.

Last month, a 27- year- old foreign national was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after he attempted to smuggle about 8,7kg of heroin to India.

The suspect, Vitalijs Kudrjasovs, was arrested after his luggage was intercepted through x-ray scanning machines at the airport.

Security agents then searched the luggage and discovered that Kudrjasovs had concealed the cocaine in it, leading to his arrest. Last year, a 22-year-old man from Sao Paulo, Brazil was busted trying to smuggle cocaine at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Guilherme Sodre Da Salvia was arrested in April last year upon landing at the airport aboard an Ethiopian Airways with the cocaine stashed in a jacket.

Salvia appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court answering to charges of smuggling 4,3kg of cocaine into the country with an estimated street value of more than $36 million.

He was charged with unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.

This came barely a week after another Brazilian national was also busted smuggling cocaine into the country.

Karoline Silva Mafra, of Santa Catarina, was allegedly found in possession of 230 grams of cocaine worth $1 932 000.

The 23-year-old Brazilian then appeared in court along with two locals, Patience Murinda (32) and Siegfried Sibuzisi Ndlovu both of Kuwadzana Extension in Harare facing similar charges.

The smuggling of drugs into the country has always been a huge problem as it results in drug abuse among the youths.

In an effort to stop drug trafficking and drug abuse, the CID drugs and Narcotics squad are always on high alert and working tirelessly to reduce drug supply through raids at the ports of entry and on haulage trucks transporting the drugs.