dyton mupawaenda
Zvikomborero Parafini
A PANGOLIN dealer was busted at a bus terminus selling pangolin scales last week and was dragged to court charged with violating the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Surance Kofi was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi.
The court heard that on October 28, detectives from CID Minerals received a tip-off that Kofi was in possession of pangolin scales in Harare and was looking for buyers.
Acting on the tip-off, one of the police officers, managed to get Kofi’s contact details and called him purporting to be a pangolin scales buyer.
Kofi agreed to meet the prospective buyer at the Showgrounds Bus Terminus, Harare.
A team of detectives teamed up and went to the Showgrounds Bus Terminus in two vehicles, one which was being driven by the purported buyer and other which had the back-up team.
Kofi went into one of the cars holding a black plastic bag on his right hand and occupied the front passenger seat.
He opened the plastic bag to show the purported buyer the pangolin scales and the back-up team pounced on Kofi and arrested him.
The police recovered seventy five pieces of pangolin scales valued at US$ 5 000.
Online Reporter