MUTARE: A man from Chikanga has been caught trying to smuggle 72 diamonds out of the country in his underwear.
According to the local Manica Post, the diamonds were worth $14,335.
You might also like
Tapiwa Brian Mhlanga, 29, tried to run away from detectives who wanted to search him at the Forbes Border Post between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
However, the officials overpowered him and conducted a body search.
“Just after he went through the exit point towards Mozambique, the detectives approached him and identified themselves.
“Mhlanga ran away towards the direction of Mozambique and when he was caught, Mhlanga wrestled with the detectives until he was overpowered and handcuffed.
When they got down to his underwear, they found two plastic bags containing 72 diamond pieces, the report said.
“Just after he went through the exit point towards Mozambique, the detectives approached him and identified themselves.
“Mhlanga ran away towards the direction of Mozambique and when he was caught, Mhlanga wrestled with the detectives until he was overpowered and handcuffed.
Mhlanga has appeared in court to face charges of illegally possessing and smuggling precious stones.
“Just after he went through the exit point towards Mozambique, the detectives approached him and identified themselves,” prosecutor Fletcher Karombe told the court.
“Mhlanga ran away towards the direction of Mozambique and when he was caught, Mhlanga wrestled with the detectives until he was overpowered and handcuffed.
“72 pieces of diamonds packed in two plastic sachets were found in Mhlanga’s underwear after the detectives had conducted a body search.”
Mhlanga was denied bail and remanded to December.
Forbes Border Post is one of the nearest crossings to Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields, site of one of the world’s most significant discoveries in recent years.
In March this year, an electrician working at Mbada Diamonds in Marange was found with 10 diamonds stuffed down the barrel of a pen.
