New twist to 70kg mbanje haul case

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BULAWAYO police on Tuesday night arrested a Gwabalanda man they suspect to be the owner of the 69,6kg of mbanje found stashed in the toilet of a 70-year-old woman from the same suburb.

BULAWAYO police on Tuesday night arrested a Gwabalanda man they suspect to be the owner of the 69,6kg of mbanje found stashed in the toilet of a 70-year-old woman from the same suburb.

MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Ian Ncube was arrested hours after cops had swooped on the house of Josephine Sithole where the illicit drug was found.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed Ncube’s arrest following a tip-off that he was a member of a suspected drug syndicate operating in Gwabalanda and Luveve.

“Ncube is the owner of the mbanje which was recovered from Sithole’s house on Tuesday and will be charged for drug dealing. Sithole on the other hand will be charged for drug custody,” Moyo said.

“We appeal to members of the public to avoid associating with criminals because possession is an offence on its own.” Moyo said the two would appear in court soon for illegal drug dealing.

Police received an anonymous tip-off on Monday that a drug syndicate was operating in Gwabalanda and Luveve. Acting on the tip-off, the cops swooped on Sithole’s house and unearthed the 69,6kg mbanje with a street value of about $70 000 hidden in one of the toilets with the help of sniffer dogs.

Sithole was immediately arrested and taken into custody while police investigations continued.