DARING armed robbers raided a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) container depot in Bulawayo and went away with a consignment of 148 boxes of Broncleer, a cough mixture which was banned over abuse as a euphoric drug.

The total value of the contraband, which includes four cases of gin, is about US$20 000.

The stolen goods believed to have been smuggled from South Africa were confiscated by Zimra on Tuesday and the gang struck at the depot on the same day at around 7.30PM.

The suspects were armed with an FN rifle and they threatened to shoot the security guards who were manning the premises in the event that they raised alarm before tying their hands using a rope.

The suspects whose exact number could not ascertained used bolt cutters to destroy the locks at the main gate to access the premises.

They found four security guards and ordered them to lie down at gunpoint before they tied them and offloaded the impounded goods from the truck.

The contraband, which was concealed under a consignment of groceries, was being transported to Bulawayo in a haulage truck when it was intercepted by police in Esigodini.

The truck was seized and taken to the Zimra container depot at Raylton Industrial Area in Bulawayo.-State media