A 30-year-old Bulawayo woman, Tracy Papayi, has been acquitted and discharged after a high-profile drug case collapsed in court.
Papayi had been arrested by ZRP Drugs and Narcotics detectives after police recovered 1.9 kilograms of dagga and 31 bottles of Benylin codeine cough syrup with a combined street value of ZWG111,650.
She faced charges of unlawfully possessing dangerous drugs and prescription medication without a permit.
However, Regional Magistrate Taurayi Manuwere dismissed the case after major inconsistencies and procedural failures were exposed during trial.
The court heard that the seized cough syrup was never scientifically tested for verification.
State witnesses also gave conflicting testimonies regarding where the substances were allegedly recovered.
Further irregularities included missing information on official police records and the failure to identify the owner or occupants of the property where the raid allegedly took place.
The magistrate ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient, leading to Papayi’s acquittal.
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