A bus driver has been arrested at Dulivhadzimu Bus Terminus in Beitbridge, Zimbabwe for unlawful possession of 40kg of dagga, with an estimated street value of $4 million.
The dagga was discovered stashed in the boot of the bus. The suspect, Hendrix Jonga (35), was apprehended following a tip-off to the police.
This comes amid a national crackdown dubbed “No to Dangerous Drugs and Illicit Substances,” in which over 4,200 people have been arrested so far.
The Zimbabwean government has urged the police to intensify efforts against drug lords supplying illegal substances to the country’s youth, as many are struggling with drug addiction.
The police have warned cross-border bus and truck drivers, who are believed to be part of the drug smuggling syndicate, to stop the practice or face dire consequences.
The authorities have also increased surveillance and checks at all border posts as the operation against drug suppliers and peddlers intensifies.
In addition to conducting door-to-door searches to flush out drug dealing, police have randomly raided suspected drug havens in stop-and-search operations. Large quantities of mbanje, crystal methamphetamine commonly referred to as mutoriro, and bottles of banned addictive cough syrups such as Broncleer, Benylin with codeine, and Adco-Salterpyn syrup have been recovered.
The police have impounded the bus and the suspect has been charged with unlawful possession of illicit substances.
