Harare court jails two Britons for nine years over 66 kg airport cannabis
The Harare Magistrates' Court sentenced British nationals Tihaise Darlin Elisha and Taylor Tamara Simone to nine years in prison, with three years suspended, after police found about 66 kg of compressed cannabis in four suitcases when they arrived from Thailand on 1 May 2025.
🇿🇼 Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare · Zimbabwe
British nationals Tihaise Darlin Elisha and Taylor Tamara Simone were sentenced at the Harare
Magistrates’ Court to nine years in prison each, with three years suspended on condition of good
behaviour, for unlawful dealing in dangerous drugs.[1][2][3]Reporting in early August 2025 said
each would serve an effective six years.[2][3]
Police arrested the pair on 1 May 2025 at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after they
landed on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 873 from Thailand.[2][3]Officers at arrivals terminal 2
searched four suitcases and found 124 half-kilogram compressed satchets of dagga weighing 66.415 kg,
which police valued at more than US$600,000.[2]The National Prosecuting Authority told
NewZimbabwe that detectives had flagged suspicious behaviour before the search.[3]
BBC News said more than 66 kg was hidden in the luggage and noted the UK Foreign Office was
supporting the two detainees.[1]NewZimbabwe quoted prosecutors as saying 53 packets were found
in red and brown bags tagged with the defendants’ names, while giving a total weight of 65.415 kg.[3]
Photos and video
Zimbabwe Republic Police photograph of Taylor Tamara Simone after the airport seizure.Photo details
Zimbabwe police named seven people sentenced for unlawful possession of dagga as part of 25 convictions announced in a nationwide crackdown. The dagga sentences ranged from six months to 36 months, while other cases involved dangerous drugs, unregistered medicines and an immigration offence.
Police in Chipinge arrested Maria Mawacha, Gremma Mutema and Simon Sithole after 357 dagga plants were found in maize fields and gardens. Mawacha pleaded guilty and received 36 months with suspensions and 580 hours community service, while charges against Mutema were withdrawn and Sithole awaits sentence.
The Chinhoyi Magistrates' Court sentenced Aristotle Keith Mabvira to an effective 30 months in prison for possessing 1.055 kg of dagga recovered from his room. Six months of the 36-month term were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Arrested 1Cannabis 1.055 kgPrison 30 months (six months suspended for five years)
Zimbabwe's information minister said 2,889 people accused of drug offences had been brought before the courts and 381 convictions secured under the government's drug abuse crackdown, and that 31 drug bases in Manicaland and Mashonaland West provinces were dismantled. He gave the value of all drugs confiscated, dagga among them, as about ZiG79.9 million.