By Beverly Bizeki
Police at a roadblock along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway once again intercepted a consignment of substances worth US$2 160, just a week after busting a US$25 000 haul at the same block.
The peddler in the latest case, Polite Moyo, 33 has since appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Isaac Chikura facing drug smuggling charges, and was remanded in custody.
It was the State’s case, represented by prosecutor Precious Takuva that police officers conducting an anti-smuggling operation stopped a Great Hope Funeral Parlour white commuter omnibus on March 15 at around 3 PM.
The vehicle, driven by Dumani Mayibongwe, was carrying mourners when officers conducted a search and found 360 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup stashed in a green sack between Moyo’s legs.
Mayibongwe and the mourners identified Moyo as the owner of the contraband. Authorities also revealed that Moyo had previous convictions for similar offenses in Harare.
In a separate case, Charles Bhebhe, implicated in another drug bust, was sentenced to 21 months in prison by Masvingo Magistrate Arafat Khozanai. Bhebhe and his alleged accomplices, whom he later exonerated, were caught transporting 2,250 bottles of Broncleer, 2,400 bottles of Benylin cough syrup, 480 bottles of Astrapain cough syrup, and 100 bottles of Salterpyn.
These incidents highlight a disturbing tactic used by drug traffickers, exploiting the sanctity of funeral processions to evade getting caught. The cases also raise questions about law enforcement loopholes, particularly at border entry points, that allow such large quantities of illicit substances into the country.
