Attempt to sell pangolin backfires

Michael Magoronga
FIVE Gokwe men will forever rue the day they attempted to sell a live pangolin after they were sold out and arrested.

The five appeared in court on Monday after they were arrested by Gokwe detectives acting on a tip-off.

Tawanda Ngara (33), Phillip Murimira (39), Innocent Mungoro (38), Moses Muguti (35) and Clemence Mukumirwa (33) were all arraigned before Gokwe magistrate Mr Musaiona Shortgame facing charges of selling a specially protected animal without a licence.

They were remanded in custody to 17 September for setting of a trial date after they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Prosecuting, Mr Maxwell Tapfira told the court that on the 1 September, the quintet attempted to sell the animal.

Police received a tip-off to the effect that the accused persons were in possession of a live pangolin and intended to sell it.

Acting on the tip-off, a team comprising Gokwe-CID, MBCU, Parks and Wildlife officials launched an investigation on the matter.

The team then obtained Ngaraa��s contacts which they used to contact the group and masqueraded as potential buyers.

Arrangements were made that the two groups meet at Galliver area along Gokwe-Chitekete road for the completion of the deal.

Upon arrival, the detectives spotted a Toyota Granvia which was parked and they surrounded the car.

They then identified themselves before searching the car.

They found the pangolin neatly tucked in a plastic dish and put in a brown cotton bale.

The pangolin, weighing 9,77 kilogrammes, was seized by the Parks and Wildlife management officials who were part of the investigation team. .