Zimbabwe Republic Police officers based in Beitbridge busted a gang of drug dealers during a routine patrol along the Limpopo River.
Three men carrying two wooden drawers and a wrapped cardboard box filled with marijuana abandoned their luggage when they encountered the officers and fled into South Africa. Police said in a statement:
11,895 kilograms of dagga were recovered in Beitbridge after a police patrol team along Limpopo River intercepted 3 men carrying 2 wooden drawers and a wrapped cardboard box.
The trio fled into SA side after the police informed them that they were under arrest for violating COVID 19 regulations. The parcel was opened and dagga destined for South Africa was found.
Smuggling of goods and border jumping across the Limpopo has increased in recent months after Zimbabwe and South Africa closed the border to non-essential traffic in a bid to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus which causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19.
Essential products such as cooking oil and rice as well as cigarettes and beer are routinely smuggled across the porous border, with security officials from both countries allegedly involved in the illegal activities.
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