Online Reporter
Online reporter
A man from Marondera appeared in court in Harare yesterday for allegedly attempting to sell eight lion teeth worth US$20 000.
Kenias Sekero (37) is facing charges of trafficking in wildlife trophies without a permit.
He pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing before Harare magistrate Ms Lisah Mutendereki.
Sekero, the court heard, was arrested in Harare’s Central Business District while in possession of the lion teeth that he was selling.
According to the State, on September 5, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) in Harare received information that Sekero was in possession of lion teeth and was looking for buyers.
The detectives obtained his cellphone number and began communicating with him while posing as potential buyers of wildlife products.
The two parties agreed to meet at Africa Unity Square in Harare.
A team of three detectives then proceeded to the agreed meeting point in a service vehicle and parked along Third Street.
At around 11:30 am, Sekero allegedly entered the vehicle and occupied the front passenger seat.
The State alleges that Sekero produced a wrapped bank paper from his left trouser pocket containing eight lion teeth and showed them to the purported buyers.
He allegedly demanded US$150 for lion canine teeth and US$130 for five lion incisors. The detectives then alerted their back-up team, which moved in and arrested Sekero.
Sekero failed to produce a valid permit authorising him to possess or sell the wildlife trophies.
The recovered teeth were subsequently examined in the presence of Sekero by a Parks and Wildlife Management Authority official, Mr Everisto Simayo.
The teeth were identified as three lion canine teeth and five lion incisor teeth.
The wildlife trophies were valued at US$20 000.
