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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Security agents in Beitbridge have arrested a 27-year-old woman for allegedly smuggling a contraband of 104 kg of mbanje (marijuana) and 50 by 100mls of Broncleer –- from South Africa which she intended to transport to Harare on an inter-city bus on Tuesday.

The contraband that was concealed under blankets is worth over US$11 000.

It is understood that the arrest is part of the ongoing “operation no to Cross-border crimes”.

Vesca Macheke of Tshidixwa suburb (old medium) in Beitbridge appeared before Beitbridge Magistrate court this Friday charged with unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs and contravening a section of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act.

Beitbridge Magistrate Miss Vavariro Gabi granted her US$200 bail. She will return to court on October 1 for trial.

She also ordered the accused to surrender her passport and report twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays at Beitbridge police station.

Prosecuting, Mr Tawanda Chigavazira said on September 10, Macheke allegedly smuggled the mbanje and cough syrup from Musina, South Africa.

Upon arrival in Beitbridge town, Macheke took the contraband to Dulivhadzimu bus terminus and placed them in an inter-city bus intending to transport them to Harare.

Her luck ran out when security agents acting on a tip-off pounced on the bus before it could leave Beitbridge.

A search of the bus led to the discovery of 53 cobs of dagga (mbanje) and 50 by 100mls of Broncleer cough syrup worth US$10 371 and US$300 respectively.

The accused was immediately arrested and the contraband was seized. The development comes a few months after the Government established four ZRP Drugs and Narcotics Units at four border posts, namely: Beitbridge; Victoria Falls; Chirundu; and Mutare.

It is reported that these units at points of entry are meant to curtail the inflow of drugs. Inland units have also been established at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, and Victoria Falls airports.

New technologies like drones are also being used to monitor the country’s borders in addition to traditional surveillance methods to reduce the smuggling and trafficking of drugs.