Cops caught a Chipinge man sneaking booze across the border and slapped him with a $300 fine. Anywhere Chigerwe drove his Honda Fit through a hidden spot at Southdown instead of using legal entry points between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Law officers spotted the 31-year-old coming from Mozambique during their border patrol on March 4, 2025. The authorities included local police, criminal investigators, support units, and revenue agents working together to catch smugglers.
When officers tried to flag down Chigerwe, he spun his car around fast and raced toward Mozambique. Police chased after him at high speed until they finally caught up and arrested him. They searched his Honda Fit with license plate ADQ 5126 and found loads of different alcoholic drinks inside the vehicle. Chigerwe had no papers showing he paid any import taxes on these beverages.
The court made Chigerwe hand over all the smuggled alcohol to the government as part of his punishment. Officials calculated the total value at more than $38,000 worth of booze he tried bringing across illegally. The exact amount listed as lost tax revenue came to $38,060.23, according to court records. His case went through the Chipinge Magistrates' Court, where they decided his penalty.
Law enforcement teams conduct regular operations along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border to fight against illegal trade. These joint teams catch many people trying to avoid paying import duties every month. Border jumpers often use small cars and back roads to bring items into the country without paying the required taxes. The government loses millions each year from people skipping customs payments on goods they bring across national boundaries.
When officers tried to flag down Chigerwe, he spun his car around fast and raced toward Mozambique. Police chased after him at high speed until they finally caught up and arrested him. They searched his Honda Fit with license plate ADQ 5126 and found loads of different alcoholic drinks inside the vehicle. Chigerwe had no papers showing he paid any import taxes on these beverages.
The court made Chigerwe hand over all the smuggled alcohol to the government as part of his punishment. Officials calculated the total value at more than $38,000 worth of booze he tried bringing across illegally. The exact amount listed as lost tax revenue came to $38,060.23, according to court records. His case went through the Chipinge Magistrates' Court, where they decided his penalty.
Law enforcement teams conduct regular operations along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border to fight against illegal trade. These joint teams catch many people trying to avoid paying import duties every month. Border jumpers often use small cars and back roads to bring items into the country without paying the required taxes. The government loses millions each year from people skipping customs payments on goods they bring across national boundaries.
