R2m drug mule denied bail

Source: R2m drug mule denied bail | The Herald July 1, 2019

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A Zimbabwean woman who was arrested for smuggling drugs worth R2 million into South Africa via Beitbridge Border Post was last week denied bail.

In addition, the case which was initially being handled by South Africa Police Services has been taken over by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) in that country which targets organised crime, economic crime, corruption and other serious crimes.

Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo Captain Matimba Maluleke said Mavis Busisiwe Thundedzwa (38) appeared before Musina Magistrates’ Court for formal bail application.

“The suspect was denied bail and remanded in custody to July 8 for trial,” he said.

According to the police, Thundedzwa was arrested by police during routine border patrols.

It is alleged that on May 11 at around 6am, South African police were performing their normal duties at the Beitbridge port of entry under the Musina policing area when they searched Thundedzwa’s  luggage.

During the search, the police found 15 x crystal meth drugs worth an estimated street value of over R2 million.

Further, preliminary police investigations revealed that Thundedzwa was travelling from Harare to South Africa.

The smuggling of drugs and explosives between Zimbabwe and South Africa has been on the increase.

Over 40 peoplewere arrested between 2015 and 2017 while smuggling similar contraband between the two countries.

In 2015, two women from Bulawayo aged 41 and 23 respectively were fined R20 000 each for smuggling 180 detonators into the neighbouring country.

The other group of 14 men was intercepted in July 2014 at an illegal entry point along the Limpopo River carrying a contraband of detonators worth R350 000 and were fined R30 000 each.