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Crime Reporter
MORE than 50 Zimbabweans, mostly women, have been arrested in various countries since 2012 for drug trafficking. Drug cartels have been increasingly using Zimbabweans as mules to transport hard drugs to Asian countries, where such crimes attract a death sentence or life imprisonment.

In June this year, three Zimbabwean students were arrested in Cyprus on allegations of drug trafficking amid revelations that a number of Zimbabwean students studying in that country were being forced into crime and prostitution after being offered fake university scholarships.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs chairperson Cde Kindness Paradza revealed this while addressing the Bulawayo Press Club. In March last year, a Zimbabwean woman was arrested at Delhi Airport in India after she was found with two kilogrammes of cocaine worth $1,5 million.

In May 2016, Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr Joey Bimha said they had received reports of 10 Zimbabweans arrested in China over drug trafficking, with about three women on death row in Beijing. Last year in August, South African Police arrested three Zimbabweans – Aaron Kasirori (36), Tendai Chaparadza (41) and Tafadzwa Moses Magurira (32) – after they intercepted their truck, which was carrying 10kg of heroin worth more than R2 million smuggled through Beitbridge Border Post.

A 27-year-old Zimbabwean woman living in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, was arrested at Cape Town International Airport for being found in possession of tik (crystal methamphetamine) valued at R1 822 million in July last year. In March 2012, a Zimbabwean woman was arrested in Hong Kong after being found in possession of hard drugs while en route to Thailand.

Two other Zimbabweans were also languishing in Malaysian jails after being found in possession of cocaine. Regina Makwembere (40), was found in possession of amphetamine drugs in her luggage at the Hong Kong International Airport. Amphetamine is a psycho-stimulant drug that produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.

Her arrest followed several warnings issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Zimbabweans to be wary of international drug syndicates that reportedly target locals. At least 16 Zimbabwean women are stuck in Asian jails, 14 convicted of drug smuggling and two others awaiting the conclusion of their trial and face the death penalty if convicted.