Drug Busts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in January and February 2026
Table 1: Arrests for Drug-Related Offences (January – February 2026)
Wide Age Range:
Suspects ranged from as young as 18 years (Takudzwa Chingozho, Irvine Sibanda) to 55 years(Lacken Tshuma), indicating that drug-related crimes span multiple generations.
Significant Quantities of Cough Syrup:
The most common substance after dagga was unregistered cough syrup (Broncleer and Astra Pain). One of the largest seizures involved 5,124 bottles of Broncleer and 4,170 bottles of Astra Pain in Plumtree on 15/02/26, valued at USD 80,000.
Massive Dagga Seizures:
Several busts involved hundreds of kilograms of dagga. The largest single seizure recorded was approximately 310 kilograms near Beitbridge on 03/01/26.
Cross-Border and Transport Hubs:
A significant number of arrests occurred at border posts (Beitbridge, Plumtree, Maitengwe) or along major highways (Beitbridge-Masvingo Road, Harare-Beitbridge Road), highlighting the role of cross-border buses and private vehicles in trafficking.
Sophistication and Deception:
One notable case involved a bogus police officer wearing an Assistant Inspector uniform while transporting 120 cobs of dagga, indicating an attempt to use deception to avoid detection
Cultivation Hotspots: Arrests for cultivation were concentrated in rural farming areas such as Chipinge, Featherstone, and Bubi, with one suspect found cultivating 110 plants.