Providence Moyo
In a dramatic midnight raid on April 18, 2025, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intercepted a haulage truck at Beitbridge Border Post, seizing USD 16,400 worth of illicit Broncleer Cough Syrup and arresting two suspects.
The bust, triggered by a public tip-off, marks a critical win in Zimbabwe’s escalating war against cross-border drug syndicates fueling a codeine abuse crisis among youth.
Under cover of darkness, ZRP officers ambushed a truck near Beitbridge’s bustling freight terminal, uncovering 342 bottles of banned Broncleer Cough Syrup—a codeine-based drug linked to addiction and public health emergencies. Driver Charles Gumbo (56) and passenger Witness Chinemo (43) now face charges under Zimbabwe’s Dangerous Drugs Act, with prosecutors alleging ties to transnational smuggling networks.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the seizure, stating, “This syndicate targeted vulnerable communities. One bottle of Broncleer sells for USD 50 on Harare’s black market—enough to addict a teenager for weeks.” The bust aligns with President Mnangagwa’s Operation Clean Sweep, which has dismantled 12 smuggling rings since January 2025, per Home Affairs Ministry data.
Beitbridge, Africa’s busiest inland border, remains a hotspot for contraband. Smugglers exploit porous checkpoints and corrupt officials to traffic drugs, weapons, and counterfeit medicines. A 2024 UNODC report named Zimbabwe a key transit route for codeine flowing from South Africa to Malawi and Tanzania.
Broncleer abuse has surged in Harare’s high-density suburbs, with 40% of rehab admissions at Parirenyatwa Hospital involving under-25s.
