Three men accused of illegally dealing in liquor and dangerous drugs appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court today following their arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics unit.
Lloyd Matamba (35), Michael Alfaneta (40), and Justice Mahope (42) were charged with contravening Section 113(1) of the Liquor Act [Chapter 14:12] for selling liquor without a license and violating Section 156(1)(c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 09:23] for unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.
The trio was arrested on March 9, 2025, at Stand Number 159, Citroen Road, Masasa, Harare, following a tip-off to the police about their alleged illegal activities. Upon conducting surveillance and a subsequent raid, detectives discovered 12-ton sacks containing loose dagga hidden behind dried stalks of cannabis plants. Additionally, officers seized 30 polythene plastics filled with loose dagga, with a total weight of 4,580 kilograms, carrying an estimated street value of USD $549,600. The confiscated liquor stock was valued at approximately USD $50,000.
Prosecutors said during the raid, police found various liquor brands stored in a warehouse labeled Bay 8. When asked to produce a valid liquor license, the accused failed to do so. A preliminary field test on the seized drugs confirmed the presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
It is the State’s case that Matamba reportedly implicated Alfaneta, who then implicated Mahope. The accused also mentioned three companies—Liquor Deliveries, Ameyang Holdings, and Wild Gherkin—which they failed to verify as legitimate businesses. The court heard that the suspects had been distributing both liquor and drugs without authorization.
The accused remain in custody, and their bail application is set to be heard in the coming days as the case proceeds in court
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