HARARE – Four suspects were arrested in Harare for unlawful possession of ivory weighing 23kg after police detectives acted on a tip-off, authorities said on Sunday.
Masauso Nevhaya, 48, Priscilla Chabata, 52, Wonder Bozho, 51, and Stanford Mbiriyakura, 49, were apprehended by CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna detectives on May 30 in Braeside along Seke Road near Telecel Zimbabwe while allegedly looking for buyers.
Police recovered 35 elephant tusks stashed in brown sacks in a Datsun Go vehicle.
A follow-up search at Chabata’s residence led to the recovery of six more tusks, bringing the total to 41 pieces of ivory.
The suspects are expected to face charges under Zimbabwe’s wildlife protection laws.
Meanwhile, police said they had also arrested Lizwelibanzi Ndlovu, 42, Philani Ndlovu, 29, Makhosini Sibanda, 30, Shoti Shoko, 53, and Michael Muleya, 32, for unlawful possession of raw ivory and a trophy of specially protected species at a bushy area near the Victoria Falls truck stop on May 30.
The suspects were found in possession of pieces of ivory and some pangolin scales, which they intended to sell to potential buyers.
Police urged the public to continue reporting cases of wildlife crimes to help combat poaching and trafficking.
