Zimbabwe Situation

Three ivory dealers run into police trap

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

Three ivory dealers run into police trapIvory

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

Three Beitbridge based ivory dealers were on Friday arrested by the police while looking for buyers for two elephant tusks.

Nokhukanya Gumede (34), Phakamani Maphosa (32) and Josephe Muleya (30) were arrested after being lured by police detectives to a service station where the sale was supposed to be concluded.

Upon their arrest, they were found with 4.1kgs of raw ivory worth US$1472.54.

The trio were not asked to plead when they appeared before Ms Vavariro Gabi on Saturday.

They were remanded in custody to 4 April.

Prosecuting, Mr Tawanda Chigavazira said on March 21, the police got a tip off that the three were selling ivory.

The detectives set up a trap and posed as potential buyers after contacting the accused persons.

They agreed to conclude the deal at a local service station.

Gumede and Maphosa arrived with one of the elephant tusks.

The two were arrested upon arrival and Muleya was also arrested when he arrived with the other tusk.

The raw ivory was confisticated.

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