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 Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter

POLICE have arrested nine suspects for smuggling various goods including dangerous drugs from neighbouring South Africa and Zambia into the country through an undesignated entry point.

Last Thursday, four suspects were arrested in Beitbridge for possession of dangerous drugs while on Saturday, five suspects were nabbed for smuggling various goods from Zambia through an undesignated entry point into the country.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the dangerous drugs seized from smugglers in Beitbridge consisted of dagga, including illicit beer known as musombodhiya and crystal meth.

Cases of smuggling are on the increase with police having intensified patrols along the country’s porous borders.

“On Saturday, we arrested five suspects in Binga for smuggling various goods from Zambia through an undesignated entry point. On Thursday, four suspects were arrested in Beitbridge for possession of dangerous drugs, which consisted of dagga, illicit beer known as musombodhiya and crystal meth” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

More than 2 500 people have since been arrested for various offences following the deployment of a crack team of security forces to Beitbridge early last month to curb smuggling and other illegal activities.

The team comprising members of the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) was on January 5, deployed to identified areas where smuggling and other criminal activities were rampant.

The deployment followed a visit by State Security Minister Owen Ncube and senior members of the Joint Operations Command.

The team has registered some successes in curbing smuggling and border jumping through intercepting smuggled goods and arresting offenders.