Man flees CID officers after being found with 10 000 rounds of ammunition
Beitbridge – A late-night discovery on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway has left security forces in Matabeleland South baffled, after detectives stumbled upon a cache of 10,000 rounds of live 9mm ammunition concealed within boxes of MAQ washing powder. The incident unfolded on the 5th of November at approximately 9:25 PM, during a patrol conducted as part of Operation No to Cross Border Crimes Phase 20.
According to sources within the police, the sheer quantity of ammunition suggests the involvement of a well-organised network. “Whoever was transporting that quantity of live rounds was clearly not up to anything lawful,” a police source stated.
The drama began when a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Beitbridge patrol team noticed a lone man seated at the 319-kilometre peg along the highway. He had large boxes beside him. As the detectives approached in their vehicle, the man abruptly fled into the thick bushland to the east, disappearing into the darkness.
Inspector Chiratidzo Dube, the Matabeleland South police spokesperson, confirmed the incident but was unable to provide further details at this time.
Officers attempted to pursue the fleeing man, but their efforts were thwarted by the dense vegetation and the darkness of the night. Unable to maintain the chase, the detectives returned to the scene where the man had been sitting, their curiosity piqued by the abandoned boxes.
Upon closer inspection, the detectives discovered that the MAQ washing powder packaging contained layers of black-taped cartons. These cartons were labelled “Cartridges Small Arms,” raising immediate suspicion. A thorough examination of the contents revealed the astonishing truth: each box held ten smaller boxes, and each of these smaller boxes contained 20 packets, each filled with 50 rounds of live 9mm ammunition. The total count amounted to a staggering 10,000 rounds.
In the wake of this discovery, reinforcements were swiftly dispatched to the scene. Within minutes, officers from the ZRP Support Unit, the Canine Section, and the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) arrived, sealing off the area to ensure no evidence was disturbed and to prevent any potential escape.
A comprehensive search of the surrounding bushland was immediately launched. Police dogs were deployed to comb the ground, while officers conducted a meticulous sweep of the area in a 360-degree radius. Despite their efforts, the mystery man had seemingly vanished without a trace. Investigators found no footprints, no discarded items, and no nearby buildings that could have provided him with refuge. The man had simply disappeared.
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Investigators now suspect that the ammunition was being transported by a regional smuggling syndicate, a target of Operation No to Cross Border Crimes. The southern border region has become a notorious corridor for the illegal trafficking of weapons, and authorities believe that this recent seizure highlights the scale of the illicit activities taking place under the cover of darkness.
The recovered ammunition is currently secured at CID Beitbridge, where detectives are working to trace its origin and identify the fugitive. The value of the seized bullets is still being assessed, but authorities estimate it to be in the thousands of dollars.
The police are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in their investigation. Anyone with relevant details is urged to contact ZRP Beitbridge Urban under RRB 6495999. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are determined to bring those responsible for this illegal activity to justice.
