A South African national has been sentenced to an effective three years in prison after being convicted of unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs following his arrest while attempting to smuggle dagga into Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing at Beitbridge.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Maila Mashabane David, 50, was arrested after police received information that he had crossed into Zimbabwe carrying drugs.
According to the NPAZ, police officers deployed along the Limpopo River on 25 May received a tip-off that David had entered the country through an illegal entry point.
“On the 25th of May 2026 at around 1800 hours, police officers deployed along the Limpopo River received information that the offender had illegally entered Zimbabwe through an illegal entry point in Beitbridge while carrying dangerous drugs,” the NPAZ said.
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Police tracked down and intercepted David before searching him.
“Acting on the tip-off, the officers tracked down and intercepted the offender before conducting a search. During the search, police recovered four cobs of dagga concealed in a navy blue satchel that the offender was carrying on his back. The drugs were wrapped in black plastic and sellotape. The dagga weighing 5.23 kilograms, valued at US$523 was seized,” the NPAZ said.
The Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court convicted David of unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs and sentenced him to an effective three years’ imprisonment.
The NPAZ urged members of the public to avoid drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
“The NPAZ urges members of the public to refrain from engaging in drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes. The unlawful movement and distribution of dangerous drugs pose a serious threat to public health and security and offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the authority said.
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