Police in Harare have arrested five men on allegations of unlawful possession of ivory.
Harare provincial magistrate Simon Kandiyero remanded Peter Chipanga (47), Innocent Mudondo (37), Tonderai Boora (39), Evidence Zinhoro (39), and Washington Gondo (36) in custody until May 24 for routine remand.
Kandiyero advised the suspects to approach the High Court for bail consideration.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawo stated that on May 9 of this year, detectives from CID Minerals, Fauna, and Flora Unit received information that the accused persons were in possession of ivory in Mabvuku, Harare.
They reportedly attempted to escape, but one of the detectives fired a warning shot which halted their attempt.
The detectives recovered two pieces of ivory from Chipanga.
The court heard that a detective contacted one of the accused persons and pretended to be an ivory buyer.
The suspects agreed to meet the detective at a supermarket at Kamunhu shopping center in Mabvuku. The detective, who pretended to be a buyer, arrived first and later called for a backup team to put the area under surveillance.
The suspects approached the detective and negotiated the price.
Jambawo told the court that the suspects showed the detective the pieces of ivory, and he immediately signaled the backup team, who then pounced on the suspects.
SOURCE : SOUTHERN EYE
