HARARE – A Brazilian national and two Zimbabweans linked to the discovery of 243 grams of heroin have been jailed for seven years each.
Karoline Silver Mafra, 23, was snatched by detectives after disembarking from an Ethiopian Airways flight at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on April 2 last year. Waiting for her were Patience Murinda, 32, and her husband Slegfriend Zibusiso Ndlovu, 33, who were also arrested.
Police investigators were acting on a tip-off that the trio were dealing drugs.
In court, prosecutors did not say how much drugs were found on Mafra, from the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
Police later raided Ndlovu and Murinda’s residence where they observed seven fabric samples. On closer examination, heroin with a street value of Z$1,632,355 was found packed inside the sachets.
Prosecutors alleged that the trio were all runners for a Nigerian druglord known only as Bobby, who was allegedly operating out of a guesthouse in Marlborough in Harare.
Harare regional magistrate Ignatio Mhene jailed the trio for seven years in jail each, but conditionally suspended two years leaving them to serve an effective five years each.
