This is part of a long-running pattern. Codeine-containing syrups (especially BronCleer, commonly called “Bronco,” along with Benylin and Astra variants) are frequently smuggled across the Beitbridge border because they are restricted or unregistered in Zimbabwe due to widespread recreational abuse. Users often mix them with soft drinks or alcohol for a sedative/intoxicating effect. Authorities (ZIMRA, police, and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe) regularly intercept consignments ranging from hundreds to thousands of bottles, sometimes hidden in buses, vehicles, containers, or even unusual places. Street values in the reports commonly fall in the US$5–10 range per 100 ml bottle, which aligns with the figure you mentioned.
Similar seizures have been reported throughout 2025–2026, including cases involving hundreds of bottles, bulk containers, and linked arrests further inland. The trade feeds a documented substance-abuse problem, particularly among younger people, which is why enforcement at the border remains active.
