Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) K9 officers intercepted seven pistols and 170 rounds of 9mm blank ammunition concealed on a Bulawayo-bound bus at Beitbridge Border Post in the early hours of 6 November 2026.
The discovery was made at approximately 03:00 hours during a routine canine search at the northbound bus terminal. The bus was travelling from South Africa.
During the search, a detector dog, Poncho, alerted officers to an area beneath the first row of passenger seats, immediately behind the driver’s seat. A subsequent physical inspection uncovered two parcels wrapped in black plastic and brown adhesive tape.
The parcels contained seven black pistols and 170 rounds of 9mm blank ammunition.
The bus driver acknowledged receiving the parcels in South Africa for delivery in Bulawayo but said he was unaware of their contents. He was subsequently taken into police custody.
The pistols and ammunition, valued at R21,400—approximately US$1,250—were seized under Notice of Seizure 047464L, dated 6 November 2026.
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“The interception demonstrates the important role of our K9 dogs in combatting smuggling of dangerous goods and other forms of illicit cross-border movement,” the Authority said.
ZIMRA also urged members of the public to comply with customs requirements when moving goods across the border.
“Members of the public are urged to desist from smuggling and to use designated and authorised ports of entry when importing or exporting goods,”
The Authority warned that failure to declare goods constitutes smuggling in terms of Section 182 of the Customs and Excise Act and may result in prosecution and seizure of the goods involved.
“ZIMRA remains steadfast in protecting national revenue, securing the country's borders against illicit trade, and ensuring that goods entering Zimbabwe comply with applicable customs laws and regulations,”