FOUR people appeared in court over the weekend after being caught attempting to sell ivory worth US$2 292 in a sting operation conducted by detectives.
Mosper Musumhi (39), Edson Gonamombe (54), Kudakwashe Jim (28) and Irene Kumanda (46) were charged with unlawful possession of ivory.
They were arraigned before Harare magistrate Apollonia Marutya who remanded them in custody until February 2 this year.
The State, represented by prosecutor Tinotenda Masimba, stated that on January 24, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Harare received a tip-off about individuals in possession of raw ivory.
The suspects were reportedly seeking buyers near Meru Service Station along Bulawayo Road in White House, Harare.
The informant identified the suspects as three men and one woman carrying the ivory in a white sack.
Acting on the information, a team of detectives devised a plan to apprehend the suspects.
One detective posed as a prospective buyer, accompanied by another detective, while a backup team of four officers maintained surveillance.
On arrival at the location, the undercover detectives began negotiations with one of the suspects, gaining his trust and convincing him that they were buyers.
The parties agreed to meet across the road from Meru Service Station to weigh the ivory and finalise the deal.
The suspects crossed the road and loaded the contraband into the detectives' vehicle.
Once the ivory was in the vehicle, the undercover officers signalled the backup team to intervene.
The backup officers swiftly moved in, identified themselves as law enforcement agents and demanded to see the suspects’ permit for possessing ivory.
The court heard that none of the suspects produced a permit.
The detectives arrested the four and seized the ivory, which was wrapped in a black plastic.
The ivory weighed 17,12 kilogrammes and was valued at US$2 292,10.
During interviews, the accused persons admitted that they were seeking a buyer for the ivory.
They also revealed plans to share the proceeds of the sale.
