BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO.
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug-related crimes, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Masvingo Province arrested four individuals in connection with the possession of large quantities of drugs during a routine roadblock on the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road. The bust took place on Sunday during the morning.
According to Masvingo police press statement, officers were manning the roadblock at around 10:00 AM when they received a tip-off about passengers on a Yutong bus suspected of carrying drugs. The bus, driven by 48-year-old Tonderai Mafo from Nkulumane, Bulawayo, was signaled to pull over. However, the driver ignored the police’s directive and sped away, forcing the authorities to pursue the vehicle.
The bus was stopped about a kilometer away from the roadblock, and upon conducting a thorough search, officers discovered six large bags containing 28 rolled packets of dagga hidden in the chassis. The driver, Mafo, was immediately arrested, and the bus was taken to Masvingo Central Police Station for further investigation.
Once at the station, additional searches led to the recovery of a black satchel containing more packets of dagga. The satchel was linked to 36-year-old Paulina Mudakuvaka from Ruwa, Harare. Police noted that the dagga was packed in a similar manner to the drugs found in the chassis of the bus.
Further inspections revealed four more rolls of wrapped dagga in a black plastic bag belonging to 68-year-old Alice Mutanda from GlenView, Harare.
Additionally, Mberikunashe Allen, a 25-year-old bus conductor from Victoria Ranch, Masvingo, was arrested and charged jointly with the bus driver for possession of drugs. The total weight of the recovered dagga is estimated to be around 62 kilograms.
All four accused individuals will soon appear in court to face drug possession charges.
In the press statement, the ZRP emphasised their ongoing commitment to combat drug-related crimes and commended the public for providing valuable information. The police urged citizens to continue working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that criminals are brought to justice and drug supplies are eradicated from the communities.
This operation marks another step in the ZRP’s efforts to curb drug trafficking, which remains a significant concern in Zimbabwe.