Christopher Nyika
A JAW-DROPPING haul of drugs valued at nearly half-a-million dollars was intercepted at Beitbridge Border Post last week when authorities nabbed two Malawian nationals with 448,5 kilogrammes of dagga and 5 700 bottles of Bronclear.
Chief Superintendent Mesuli Ncube, Officer Commanding Beitbridge, confirmed the arrest of Aaron Phiri from Dedza District and Gwiriza Geofrey from Baraga Village. Both men were passengers in a truck flagged during a routine freight scan for suspected contraband.
“The truck, registration NU9517, was towing a trailer and referred to a search bay after scans revealed irregularities. When offloading the cargo, officers discovered 27 sacks of dagga hidden under 50kg bags of granules, wrapped in yellow sellotape. There were also 114 boxes of Bronclear and Benlyn wrapped in black plastic,” said Ncube.
The Beitbridge Canine Unit played a key role in the seizure. Sergeant Zano and Constable Chihungwe, working with sniffer dogs Skippy and Bolt, indicated several boxes containing six compressed white granules. A passport belonging to the truck driver, Makauli Muponda, was also recovered inside the cabin.
While the passengers were quickly arrested and handed over to CID Drugs and Narcotics Beitbridge, the driver remains at large, prompting an ongoing manhunt.
The seized dagga carries a street value of US$448 500 while the 5 700 bottles of Bronclear are worth US$28 500. “This is one of the most significant seizures at Beitbridge this year,” Ncube said. “The drugs have been secured by Zimra under seizure number 014320L and will undergo further investigation.”
Authorities are still weighing the recovered white granules, conducting drug tests, and tracing the missing driver. Ncube emphasised the importance of compliance with border laws. “This bust shows the efficiency of our canine units and the vigilance required at freight terminals. Drug trafficking will not be tolerated,” he said.
The arrests highlight the growing role of canine units in detecting illegal substances and the ongoing crackdown on narcotics trafficking through Beitbridge. Aaron Phiri and Gwiriza Geofrey remain in custody while the investigation continues and the driver is pursued.
This massive seizure not only underscores the value of border patrols but also serves as a stark warning to traffickers trying to smuggle drugs into Zimbabwe.
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