Staff Reporter
In one of the largest anti-drug operations conducted in the Midlands Province to date, police in Kwekwe have dismantled 53 drug bases and seized more than 60 kilograms of illicit substances including marijuana, crystal meth, and Broncleer.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed that 103 suspects were arrested during the coordinated raid, with 10 identified as key drug kingpins operating in the province. The crackdown targeted known hotspots in Amaveni, Mbizo, Redcliff, and Torwood.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, praised the efforts of the law enforcement teams, describing the raid as a major breakthrough in the government’s war against drugs.
“I commend the Officer Commanding Kwekwe District, Alson Chapeta, and his hardworking and committed team for taking the lead in dismantling 53 drug bases. The drug peddlers are now behind bars and facing prosecution,” said Ncube.
The operation exposed increasingly sophisticated smuggling tactics being used by dealers to evade detection. Officer Commanding CID Kwekwe-Gokwe District, Superintendent Prince Magwizi, revealed that traffickers have resorted to concealing drugs in everyday items such as cooking oil containers and cardboard boxes, often masking the scent with strong perfumes.
“They are getting sneakier with their methods. Some wrap the drugs multiple times and use heavy perfume to avoid detection. It takes community cooperation to identify and stop these operations,” Magwizi said.
Assistant Commissioner Helena Mahonde, Midlands Officer Commanding Crime and Operations, warned that the Kwekwe raid was only the beginning of an intensified crackdown on drug and substance abuse across the province.
“The President has given us the signal. The time to act is now. Our teams are all out, and this fight is going to be relentless. We will win this war,” she declared.
The drug operation coincided with a provincial stakeholder meeting on drug and substance abuse, where authorities tasked various sectors with intensifying efforts to combat the growing menace.
The Midlands Province has been identified as a key transit and distribution hub for illegal drugs, prompting renewed focus from both law enforcement and community leaders. Stakeholders have called for tighter border control, increased surveillance, and youth rehabilitation initiatives to stem the tide.
Authorities are appealing to the public to report drug-related activities in their communities, stressing that citizen involvement is critical in ensuring a drug-free society.
