Four Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Ivory Wor...

Four Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Ivory Worth US$2k

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

Four individuals have appeared in court facing charges of unlawful possession of ivory valued at US$2 292.

The accused, Mosper Musumhi ,39, Edson Gonamombe ,54, Kudakwashe Jim ,28, and Irene Kumanda ,46, were brought before Harare Magistrate Apollonia Marutya and remanded in custody until February 2, 2025.

Prosecutor Tinotenda Masimba told the court that on January 24, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department Minerals, Flora, and Fauna Unit in Harare received a tip-off about suspects in possession of raw ivory.

The informant reported that three men and one woman were trying to sell ivory near Meru Service Station along Bulawayo Road in White House, Harare. Acting on the information, the detectives devised a plan to apprehend the suspects.

An undercover detective, posing as a potential buyer, approached the suspects with another detective while a backup team of four officers maintained surveillance. The undercover officers began negotiations with one of the suspects, gaining his trust and convincing him they were genuine buyers.

After reaching an agreement, the suspects crossed the road carrying a white sack containing the ivory and loaded it into the detectives’ vehicle to weigh it and finalize the deal.

Once the ivory was secured in the vehicle, the undercover officers signaled the backup team to intervene. The team quickly identified themselves as law enforcement and demanded permits for the possession of ivory, which the suspects failed to produce.

The four suspects were arrested, and the ivory, wrapped in black plastic and stored in a white sack, was seized. The contraband weighed 17.12 kilograms and was valued at US$2 292.10.

During police interviews, the accused admitted to acquiring the ivory and seeking a buyer. They also disclosed plans to share the proceeds from the sale.