Police in Mutare reveal surprising links to smuggling syndicate

A major smuggling operation was intercepted by the Zimbabwean police near Mutare, specifically at a location called Monarch in Penhalonga. The police, acting on a tip-off, set up a clever ambush to catch two trucks reportedly involved in smuggling goods into the country illegally. The information suggested that the trucks were carrying a large haul of contraband, and the police were determined to stop them in their tracks.

According to a report by Bulawayo24 News, The two trucks—a Nissan UD and a Scania—were flagged down, but the drivers, realizing they were caught, tried to flee. The police, thinking quickly, let the air out of the tires of both trucks to prevent their escape. This quick action stopped the trucks, but the drivers didn’t stick around. They abandoned the vehicles and made a run for it on foot, leaving the smuggled goods behind. The police were unable to catch the fleeing drivers, but they managed to seize the illegal items that were packed into the trucks.

Inside, the authorities found 211 bales of second-hand clothes, 27 bags of groundnuts, and 60 brand-new shovels. All of these goods had been brought into the country illegally, bypassing customs duties and regulations. The Scania truck had the registration number AF 2423 and was traced back to a company called Back Pack Safari, based in Gweru. The Nissan UD, on the other hand, bore the number ASH 7305 and was registered to J. Mapuvire Private Limited, a company located in Chivi. As part of their investigation, the police found a mobile phone left behind in the Nissan truck, which they believe belongs to one of the drivers, identified as Fredrick Cedrick Chemusarera.

The police wasted no time in issuing a public appeal for information that could lead to the capture of the smugglers. In particular, they named Edmore Gopo, a man from Mutare, as a key suspect linked to the smuggling ring. “The ZRP appeals for information which may lead to the arrest of Edmore Gopo, a suspect who is based in Mutare and is linked to the smuggling activities,” the police said in a statement. This appeal highlighted the difficulty law enforcement faces in tracking down all those involved in such operations, especially when smugglers use secret routes to sneak goods across the border.

Smuggling remains a serious problem in Zimbabwe, with criminals exploiting hidden routes and illegal crossings to bring goods into the country without paying the necessary taxes. This not only hurts the country’s economy by depriving the government of much-needed revenue but also creates unfair competition for local businesses trying to operate legally.

The police have vowed to intensify their efforts to clamp down on smuggling, saying they will be working hard to monitor all entry and exit points across the nation. “Criminal syndicates who are taking advantage of illegal crossing points to smuggle goods will be dealt with in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe,” they warned, signaling their intent to crack down on such activities with the full force of the law.