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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
POLICE in Victoria Falls have arrested two suspected drug lords and recovered more than 6kg of marijuana, a bottle of cannabis oil and 18 litres of kachasu, an illicit homemade spirit.

The arrest comes as Cabinet last month instructed police to weed out drug dealers as they are reportedly causing a substance abuse menace countrywide and contributing to mental illnesses among youths.

This is part of Government’s enforcement of the Zimbabwe National Drug Master Plan (ZNDMP 2020-2025) and Treatment and Rehabilitation Guidelines of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder of Zimbabwe.

Abuse of drugs such as dagga as well as illicit homemade spirit popularly known as kachasu, which is also called ndamu in areas around Victoria Falls and Hwange, has been a cause for concern.

Police raided Vakatsha Farm on the outskirts of Victoria Falls along the Zambezi River following a tip-off that the conservancy owner Smit Cornelius Abram was possessing drugs.

Armed with a search warrant, police recovered 6,07kg of dagga, 610ml of cannabis oil and 18 litres of kachasu.

They also recovered condensers, electrical cans, 5-litres baobab oil, ethanol in two 25 litre containers and two distilling containers which Abram was allegedly using to distill the spirit.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda could not comment as he was out of office.

Police documents show that Abram is being charged with a count of unlawful possession of cannabis oil and dagga, dangerous drugs and articles used for the manufacture of dangerous drugs for the purposes of dealing in such drugs, and another of possession of harmful liquids which is a violation of Section 3(1) of the Harmful Liquids Act.

“Allegations are that on 7 October around 12 noon, information was received to the effect that the accused was in possession of dangerous drugs at his place of residence. A team of police officers was dispatched to the accused place of residence, armed with a search warrant and searched the premises,” read state papers on the case.

Some of the dagga was recovered from Abram’s office and some at his house stashed in a gun cabinet.

Abram’s was initially expected to appear in court on Saturday but was released on summons, and is expected to appear today. The value of the recovered items used in the commission of the offence were estimated at $627 000.
Also, Thabani Nkomazana, popularly known as SaNtonto, was recently arrested for possessing dagga.

He is well-known for dealing in dagga in Victoria Falls where he supplies scores of smokers.

Nkomazana recently appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Linda Dzvene charged with possession of dagga and was remanded out of custody on his own cognisance to next week Friday.–@ncubeleon