71-year-old caught with 3kg heroin worth US$166k

Zim Now Writer

A 71-year-old foreign national was nabbed at Robert Gabriel International Airport on Saturday while carrying 3kg of heroin, with an estimated value of US$166 000, in his luggage.

The suspect was arrested by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department Drugs and Narcotics section following a tip-off.

In a statement on their official Twitter handle, police said: “Detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics, Harare acted on received information and arrested a foreign national, Hans Arne Ingemar Petersson, 71, at RGM Airport, in connection with possession of 3kg of heroin with an estimated street value of ZWL$3 400 000.”

Police added that the drug was recovered stashed in a plastic bag which was in a false compartment created in a monarch.

This is yet another case that shows that Zimbabwe is also a transit route for hard substances coming from other countries and destined for markets in Asia and Europe.

Last year, a 46-year-old Nigerian pastor was caught with over two kilogrammes of cocaine stuffed in hats and jackets at the Victoria Falls International Airport.

Around the same time, a female tourist from India was arrested at the same airport while trying to smuggle more than nine kilogrammes of heroin worth close to US$500 000.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police launched an operation code-named “No to Dangerous Drugs and Illicit Substances: See Something, Say something” about two months ago and have arrested over 3 000 for illegal possession of the narcotics.