A Zimbabwean man based in South Africa was arrested for illegally possessing a pistol, which he had smuggled from South Africa through the Beit Bridge border post, and for using a fraudulently acquired South African passport.

The suspect, Stephen Dube (43) of Tshabalala area, arrived in Zimbabwe from South Africa through the Beit Bridge Border Post at the end of March and allegedly smuggled the pistol into the country. Last month, local detectives received information that Dube was in possession of a firearm and they raided his house, but could not locate him.

They later received information that he was at a friend’s house in the Mpopoma area, where they found him. The detectives arrested him and took him to his house in Tshabalala in Bulawayo, where they conducted a search, but could not find the firearm.

They later searched his vehicle and found the CZ pistol hidden under a seat. He was ordered to produce a firearm licence, but failed to do so, leading to his arrest.

Detectives also discovered that Dube was a holder of a South African passport, which he used to cross into the country. The fraudulently acquired document was seized by the police.