A foreign national has been arrested in Harare for allegedly running an unlicensed beauty spa and selling unregistered medicines, as part of a widening police crackdown on illegal drug operations across the country.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest, which followed a raid conducted by detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit on Tuesday, 08 April 2025. The raid targeted three premises linked to the suspect, located at 46 Van Praagh Avenue in Milton Park, 48 Harare Drive, and 157 Josiah Chinamano Avenue.
At the Josiah Chinamano address, the suspect was reportedly operating an unlicensed beauty spa offering procedures such as laser wart removal and laser hair removal without the use of trained or qualified personnel. Investigators also recovered a large quantity of unregistered and unapproved complementary medicines from the premises.
Among the confiscated items were various body enhancement and skin-lightening products, including:
- Sadoer Breast Enlargement Cream
- Sadoer Slimming Cream
- Ampoule Serum Fresh Anti-Oxidant
- Sadoer Kojic Acid
- Sadoer Anti-Wrinkle Soothing Cream
The products, largely marketed for cosmetic enhancement, are estimated to be worth over ZWL 450,000. Authorities have warned that such unregistered substances may pose serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related operation on Wednesday, 09 April 2025, detectives from the same CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit arrested a 35-year-old Zimbabwean, Dudzai Chigume, at shop number 82 Nkwame Mall in central Harare.
Police recovered a significant consignment of unregistered medicines and enhancement pills, including sex enhancers and body-altering substances such as hip, butt, breast, and penis enlargement pills.
The ZRP said these arrests are part of a broader national strategy to curb the sale and distribution of unapproved pharmaceutical products and to bring illegal operators to justice.
“The public is urged to report any suspicious drug or medicine-related activity to their nearest police station. We are committed to protecting citizens from harmful substances and illegal operations that put lives at risk,” said police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
Investigations are still underway, and the suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
