HARARE, Apr. 13 (NewsDay Live) – Two suspected drug dealers have appeared in court for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than two kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine valued at over US$22 000 to South East Asia, concealing the drugs in a leather folder and ornamental sculptures.
Michelle Mupati (26) and Lorcadia Zhou (20) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Jesse Kufa facing charges of dealing in dangerous drugs. They were remanded in custody to today for bail consideration.
Prosecutor Oscar Madhume told the court the offences occurred on two occasions in February and March this year.
In the first count, Mupati allegedly hatched a plan on February 16, 2026, to smuggle crystal meth out of Zimbabwe. She is said to have sourced the drugs from an unknown supplier and concealed them in a leather document folder after unpicking its seams and resealing them with glue.
The court heard that she wrapped the folder in black tape and dispatched it via a Bulawayo courier service to an intended recipient in South East Asia.
On March 23, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics unit in Harare reportedly acted on a tip-off and intercepted the parcel. A field test confirmed the substance as methamphetamine.
The recovered drugs weighed 1,112 grammes and were valued at about US$11,120.
In the second count, Mupati is jointly charged with Zhou. The State alleges that on March 21, 2026, the pair connived to smuggle more drugs using a more elaborate method.
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They allegedly bought four hippopotamus sculptures from Bulawayo’s City Hall area, drilled holes into them and filled the cavities with crystal meth before sealing them to avoid detection.
The sculptures were wrapped in newspaper and sent via courier to South East Asia. Acting on intelligence, CID Drugs and Narcotics detectives intercepted the parcel on March 23.
The concealed drugs tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed about 1.12 kilogrammes, bringing the total to more than 2.2 kilogrammes with a combined street value exceeding US$22 000.
Further investigations led to the arrest of both accused in Bulawayo on April 10, 2026.
