Construction worker walks into police ambush with ...

Construction worker walks into police ambush with live pangolin

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Correspondent

A construction worker who decided to supplement his day job income by dabbling in wildlife traficking walked into trouble when he found three police detectives waiting for him in Mt Pleasant.

Trinet Dube, 28, Simbabwa village, Chief Sinakorna, Binga, employed by Biltcraft Construction, Malborough, Harare, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with unlawful possession of a live ground pangolin.

The State alleges that on June 20, detectives from CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit were informed that Dube had a live pangolin in Mt Pleasant area, Harare and was looking for a potential buyer.

The detectives were given a description of Dube who was wearing a blue worksuit with the pangolin stashed in a brown bag he was carrying.

The court heard that the cops, Murahwa, Kemusi and Shekwani parked their car beside Potraz Building along Dividend Drive, Mt Pleasant, Harare and waited.

After about 30 minutes, Dube walked into the ambush whereupon the detectives found and recovered the live ground pangolin (Manis Temminckii) which was wrapped in a white and brown sack hidden inside the brown traveling bag.

Dube failed to produce any licence or permit to possess the pangolin valued at US$5 000, leading to his arrest.

Dube was retained in custody.