A fake detectives’ syndicate, whose members were posing as officers from the Narcotics and Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, has been arrested after targeting several people, whom they accused of being drug dealers, before extorting money from them.
The six-member gang, Lloyd Rainey Zvuma, Clemens Manyika, Sylvester Cherry, Simbarashi Chiyangwa, Sydney Chikuzo and Felix Tagonera, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo over the weekend.
Their detention was extended until tomorrow to submit a bail application.
The court heard that on January 18, the gang gathered, got into a BMW and approached their target, Tafadzoa Lovemore Modzhikenidze.
They introduced themselves as investigators from the Drug CID and officers from the Office of the President.
Zvoma allegedly produced a ZRP identity card bearing the name of Constable Masaraure while Chaire produced a fake identity card from the Office of the President bearing the details of Tendai Marakasa.
The gang accused Mudzikenidze of Kuadzana of being a major drug supplier and told him he was under arrest.
They manhandled him and forced him into his car, which they drove towards Harare’s central business district.
They allegedly parked their cars near the Harare fairgrounds and demanded US$1,000 from him in exchange for his freedom.
During the same time, real officers from the CID received a tip that the gang was holding Modzhikenidze hostage.
They tracked down the gang members and arrested them.
Police recovered identification, a pair of handcuffs, three GPS trackers and a can of pepper spray from the gang.
Police also found two bags of crystal meth on the gang.
The Trial of Zebediah Boffo. h metro
