Harare— Two British nationals have been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment after being apprehended at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport for smuggling a substantial quantity of cannabis.
The two were caught attempting to smuggle 66.415 kilograms of dagga into the country and have now been convicted of unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.
Two British Nationals Up For Drug Smuggling
The convicts, identified as Tihaise Darlin Elisha (19) and Taylor Tamara Simone (21), appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where they were found guilty and sentenced accordingly.
Although the initial sentence was nine years each, the court ruled that three years of the sentence would be suspended on the condition of good behaviour during their time in prison.
The incident took place on May 1, when Elisha and Simone arrived in Zimbabwe aboard Ethiopian Airways Flight ET 873. Their behaviour upon arrival aroused suspicion among law enforcement officers stationed at the airport.
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Acting on intelligence and behavioural indicators, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics unit carried out a search of the pair’s luggage. During the search, officers discovered 53 sealed packets of cannabis concealed within four large suitcases.
The suitcases, tagged with the offenders’ names, were described as red and brown in colour. According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the total weight of the confiscated dagga amounted to over 66 kilograms—a volume far beyond what could be considered for personal use, thus confirming the intention to smuggle
