Foreign Nationals Arrested at RGMI Airport for attempting to bring drugs to Zimbabwe.
By Delicious Mathuthu
Harare, Zimbabwe – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested two foreign nationals at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (RGMI) for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of illegal drugs into the country, in what authorities are calling a significant blow against international drug trafficking networks.
A statement issued by Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Friday, says the suspects were intercepted upon arrival from Thailand on Thursday, and were found in possession of four monarch-branded suitcases containing large quantities of skunky dagga, a potent strain of cannabis.
“The ZRP has arrested two foreign nationals at RGMI Airport who were coming from Thailand to Zimbabwe for drug trafficking.
“The foreigners were in possession of four monarch suitcases containing: 18.5kg, 17kg, 18.4kg, and 16kg of loose skunky dagga respectively. More details will be released in due course,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
The seizure, which totals over 69 kilograms of high-grade cannabis, reveals growing concerns about Zimbabwe’s role as a potential transit point in the regional and global drug trafficking chain with a growing domestic drug and substance abuse trend.
The bust is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts in fighting drugs and dangerous substance trade in the country.
Recent reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) show that Southern Africa is becoming increasingly entangled in the global drug trade, particularly in the movement of cannabis, methamphetamine, and heroin.
The region’s porous borders, under-resourced enforcement, and increased international connectivity have made it vulnerable to both import and export smuggling operations.
Thailand, where the suspects originated, has recently decriminalized cannabis for medicinal and commercial use, but exporting it without strict licenses remains illegal, research shows.
The move has unintentionally opened new channels for cross-border trafficking, particularly to African countries where cannabis laws remain stringent.
Law enforcement agencies across the region are now intensifying border control efforts and international cooperation to curb the escalating trade.
The ZRP continues to work with transnational organisations like the InterPol and regional security partners to dismantle trafficking syndicates operating between Asia and Southern Africa.
Authorities are yet to release names or nationalities of the suspects as investigations continue.
