Woman caught with 144kgs of dagga

POLICE’S efforts to combat the drug menace that has gripped the nation are continuing to bear fruits after alert police officers in Rusape arrested a 52-year-old Chitungwiza woman who was in possession of 144kgs of dagga.

The Police Intelligent Unit received a tip-off that Silvia Sithole of St Mary’s in Chitungwiza was transporting dagga aboard a bus that was travelling from Chipinge to Harare.

The officers alerted their colleagues that were manning a roadblock in Rusape.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Norbert Muzondo confirmed the incident.

He said when the police searched the bus, they discovered a 90kg bag containing dagga and immediately impounded the bus.

Further searches were carried out at Rusape Central Police Station and four more bags were discovered in the boot.

“On September 14, our Rusape Police Intelligence Unit picked up information to the effect that a bus travelling from Chipinge to Harare was carrying dagga. The team relayed the information to a team that was manning a roadblock at the 170km peg along Mutare-Harare Highway.

“At around 4.30am, the bus arrived at the roadblock and searches were conducted. A 90kg bag full of dagga was found and the bus was escorted to the police station. Further searches were conducted and four more 90kg bags were found in the boot.

“The bus conductor, Dzingai Matanga, was interrogated and he identified Sithole as the owner of the dagga, leading to her arrest. The recovered dagga was weighed at Zimpost and its mass was 144kgs,” said Inspector Muzondo.

He said the police will continue busting drug syndicates to ensure a drug free country.

“We want to warm those dealing in banned drugs to desist from that because the long arm of law will eventually catch up with them. Dagga is a dangerous drug and the public must continue cooperating with the police in bringing the suspects to book,” he said.