Brazilian drug dealer remanded in custody

Patience Nhamburo

A 22-year-old man from Sao Paulo, Brazil who appeared before the Harare Magistrate’s Court for allegedly smuggling 4.3kg of cocaine into Zimbabwe with an estimated street value of more than $36 million on April 7, has been further remanded in custody.

Guilherme Sodre Alvenaz Da Silveria was arrested on landing at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight.

A team comprising of detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics Harare, Canine Harare, CID Homicide Harare and CID Law and Order Harare, intercepted Da Silveria and conducted searches in his luggage, leading to the seizure of a whitish powder that was wrapped in silver foil paper stashed in the lining of the accused’s black jacket.

Preliminary field tests were done on the powder in the presence of Da Silveria and it tested positive for cocaine.

Da Silveria’s lawyer Knowledge Maeresera said they did not apply for bail for his client.

“We did not apply for bail because of the state of the matter, so my client understands the allegations, of what they are saying is cocaine which was found in his luggage. So he has been placed on remand, and we now await date for trial”, he said.

Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi remanded Da Silveria in custody to April 30, pending trial. 

Da Silveria is the second Brazilian to be arrested in Zimbabwe for the same offence in a space of two days. 

Karoline Silva Mafra, of Santa Catarina was also allegedly found in possession of 230 grams of cocaine worth $1 932 000.

She appeared in court along with two locals, Patience Murinda and Siegfried Ndlovu both of Kuwadzana Extension in Harare.