Source: US$1,2m dagga smuggling syndicate suspect in custody – herald
Moses Chauke (centre) arrives at the Harare Magistrates Court. He allegedly acted in common purpose to smuggle a tonne of dagga worth US$1,2 million from South Africa through Beitbridge Border Post recently. – Picture: Lee Maidza.Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
AN alleged accomplice in a drug trafficking syndicate accused of smuggling more than a tonne of dagga valued at US$1,2 million into Zimbabwe appeared in court yesterday.
Moses Chauke (50) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo facing a charge of unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.
He was remanded in custody to today for a bail hearing.
The State, represented by prosecutor Mrs Heather Mhlanga-Muokoto, alleges that on June 1, 2026, Chauke illegally imported 1 094,20 kilogrammes of compressed dagga from South Africa into Zimbabwe through an unauthorised crossing point along the Limpopo River, east of the Beitbridge Border Post.
After allegedly smuggling the consignment into the country, Chauke is said to have coordinated its transportation to Harare.
The court heard that the contraband was loaded into a 30-tonne haulage truck concealed inside a metal container.
The truck, driven by Thapson Ndou, was destined for Harare.
Ndou has already been arrested and is on remand facing related charges.
Acting on information received, police intercepted the truck on the same day at Ligi Restaurant Truck Stop in Southerton, Harare, opposite Swift Company.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of the dagga.
On June 2, the recovered drugs were weighed at the Zimpost Harare Main Post Office, where they were found to have a total mass of 1 094,20 kilogrammes.
The court heard that the recovered dagga has an estimated street value of US$1,2 million. Investigations subsequently led police to Chauke, who was arrested on June 15 at around 2am in Dulivhadzimu, Beitbridge.
His mobile phone was recovered during the arrest.
According to the State, an examination of the device uncovered SMS messages, WhatsApp chats, voice notes and call logs allegedly linking Chauke to his co-accused and the drug-smuggling operation.
The communications allegedly established contact between Chauke and the intended recipient of the consignment, Everjoy Chipfiko, who is also on remand facing a similar charge, regarding arrangements for the collection of the dagga upon its arrival in Harare.
Further analysis of the phone allegedly revealed communication with three other suspected accomplices identified as Prosper Jena, Moses Chiverengera and a woman known only as Victoria, who remain at large.
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