Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Online Correspondent
A MAN from Ushewokunze, Harare, has appeared in court after he was arrested for unlawful possession of crocodile skins worth US$9 000.
Tom Wairesi appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe, who remanded him in custody before advising him to apply for bail at the High Court since he is facing a serious offence.
It is the State’s case that on March 21, 2026, detectives received information that someone was selling crocodile skins in Ushewokunze, Harare.
The court heard that detectives managed to get Wairesi’s phone number.
One of the detectives posed as a buyer for wildlife products and communicated with the suspect, who agreed to have the transaction completed the following day.
On March 22 2026, the detective who posed as a buyer communicated with the suspect, who directed him to a fuel station in Mbare.
Other detectives proceeded to the said place in two vehicles, one being driven by the purported buyer and the other by the backup team for reaction.
On arrival at the fuel station in Mbare, the accused and the purported buyer had a short meeting in the detective’s vehicle.
They agreed on the price of US$1 600 for each crocodile skin. It is alleged that Wairesi went to collect a khaki cardboard box containing the crocodile skins.
The purported buyer signalled the reaction team, which was on surveillance, to pounce. The detectives introduced themselves to the accused and requested to search him.
He consented to the detectives searching the cardboard box, which was on his lap. The detectives recovered six fresh crocodile skins, which were salted, wrapped in a black plastic bag stashed in a green paper bag.
According to court papers Wairesi was asked to produce any permit which allows him to possess the crocodile skins, but failed to do so, leading to his arrest.
The recovered crocodile skins are valued at US$9 000.
