CID Officer Charged Over Alleged Dagga, Codeine Smuggling

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE

A Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detective stationed in Beitbridge has appeared in court on allegations of smuggling 40.8 kilogrammes of dagga and 200 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup into Zimbabwe through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River. John Mashoko (37), a police officer attached to the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit, appeared before Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube facing charges of dealing in dangerous drugs, contravening the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, and criminal abuse of duty as a public officer. Mashoko has not yet entered a plea, and the allegations remain unproven until tested in court.

According to the State, detectives from the Police Intelligence National Crack Team for Anti-Drug Trafficking, led by Detective Assistant Inspector Simbi Padzakashamba, received information on 18 July 2026 alleging that Mashoko had smuggled dagga and unregistered pharmaceutical medicines into Zimbabwe the previous day through illegal crossing points west of Beitbridge Border Post. Prosecutors allege Mashoko used his private vehicle to collect the contraband after it had been transported across the Limpopo River.

Investigators later received information that the suspect had booked Room 1 at Buffalo Lodge, situated about 15 kilometres along the Beitbridge–Masvingo Road, while travelling to Harare, where the drugs were allegedly intended for distribution. Detectives conducted an overnight surveillance operation after locating Mashoko's vehicle parked at the lodge, the court heard.

On 19 July, Mashoko allegedly checked out of the lodge accompanied by Tawanda Kumbirai (27), a nurse employed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care at Beitbridge General Hospital.

The State alleges that detectives intercepted the pair after they left the lodge, identified themselves and obtained permission to search the vehicle. During the search, police allegedly recovered 26 compressed packets of dagga weighing 40.8kg concealed in the boot, together with 200 bottles of 100ml BronCleer cough syrup, which allegedly contained 10mg of codeine per bottle. Both Mashoko and Kumbirai were arrested at the scene.

Police also seized the suspected drugs, the vehicle allegedly used to transport them, and two mobile phones, a Samsung Galaxy A17 and a Samsung Galaxy A16. According to the prosecution, preliminary forensic examinations of the mobile phones allegedly uncovered WhatsApp messages, text messages and audio recordings believed to relate to the acquisition, transportation and intended sale of dagga and unregistered pharmaceutical medicines. The recovered dagga and medicines have an estimated street value of US$50,960, according to court papers.

Zimbabwean authorities have intensified anti-drug operations in recent years as part of a nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse. Law enforcement agencies have identified Beitbridge Border Post and illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River as key smuggling corridors due to the high volume of cross-border movement between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The matter was remanded to allow investigations to continue.

CID officer drug smuggling