By Crime and Courts Reporter – Two British nationals have been sentenced to nine years in prison each by Harare Regional Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa after they were caught attempting to smuggle 124 packs of dagga into Zimbabwe.
Tihaise Darlin Elisha (18) and Taylor Tamara Simone (20) were convicted last Friday after a full trial, with Magistrate Gofa ruling that the State had presented overwhelming evidence proving their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje told the court that the two were arrested on May 1 at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. Acting on a tip-off, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit stationed at the airport intercepted the pair shortly after they disembarked from an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The suspects were identified at the arrivals terminal as they collected four large suitcases from the luggage carousel. They were immediately taken to the airport’s search bay, where officers conducted a detailed inspection of their bags.
The search led to the discovery of 124 packs of compressed dagga concealed inside the suitcases.
The drugs weighed approximately 66.9 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value of US$669,000.
Following their arrest, the suspects were issued with a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority exhibit seizure confirmation receipt and taken into police custody.
Magistrate Gofa emphasized the seriousness of drug trafficking and noted that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
Source: Zimeye
