Rhino poachers fall into police trap

July 21, 2011

Rhino poachers fall into police trap

possession of ivory and rhino horns.
The men were arrested in a combined operation between Parks and the Police Minerals and Border Control Unit.

Deputy chief police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka yesterday confirmed the arrests, saying full-scale investigations were under way.
Godfrey Nyambuya (34), three ex-soldiers based at Three Brigade Nelson Abraham, Charles Muzenda (43), Brighton Kucherana (43), and Bikita villager Peter Makaye Murira (44) and David Marahwu (37) were arrested on Monday.

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They were caught selling two fresh rhino horns weighing 4,6 kg.
The rhino was poached at Devure Ranch at the border of Bikita and Chiredzi.

“They were arrested by our CID Minerals Unit following a tip off that there were some people who were in possession of two rhino horns and looking for buyers at Sam Levy Village.
“The detectives went to the shopping centre and pretended to be buyers before being led by Nyambuya and Abraham to a Mercedes Benz, which was parked nearby,” he said.
Chief Supt Mandipaka said the suspects were immediately arrested before the two horns were recovered stashed in a black travelling bag.

A CZ pistol with one round of ammunition was also recovered from Muzenda.
“The two horns were taken to the National Parks and Wildlife Management who confirmed that they were genuine and weighing 4,5kg valued at US$120 000,” Chief Supt Mandipaka said.
The group had been under surveillance since April.

In both instances, said the source, the suspected poachers were tricked into selling their contraband to detectives in the joint operation after first approaching Chinese businesspeople at Sam Levy.
The other group comprising Guruve farmers, Rodgers Aluberto (34), Thomas and Tongai Saburinyu (ages not given) and Chriswell Mukwenya (29), were arrested last Friday while trying to sell four elephant tusks in Harare.

The tusks are believed to have been acquired from Mozambique and brought to Harare for sale.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority public relations manager Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo said the arrests and recovery of the contraband were as a result of co-operation between police and parks investigators.

“These are the fruits of good co-operation between the two organisations.
“We hope to continue cementing our relationship and defending our national heritage. We can no longer fold our hands while poachers destroy our wildlife,” she said.
Commercial elephant and rhino poaching has become a national concern, with more than 10 rhinos having been killed in the first half of this year alone and parks authorities calling for a holistic national anti-poaching approach.