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Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested three Lupane men for possessing ivory worth US$4 480 after a tip-off from members of the public.

Jabulani Dube (41) of Lobengula Suburb, Dedani Sibanda (33) years of Masungamala Village, Lupane and Dumisani Tshuma (30) of Shambula Village were arrested near Umguza tollgate where they were supposed to meet a buyer.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident saying the ivory weighed 64 kilogrammes and was valued at US$ 4 480.

“On January 19 at around 7 PM, detectives from CID Vehicle Theft Squad, Bulawayo received information to the effect that the accused persons were in possession of elephant tusks at Lupane and wanted to transport them to Bulawayo where they intended to sell them. The following day around 5 AM, the detectives reacted to the information and proceeded to Umguza tollgate where the accused persons were supposed to meet the intended buyer,” said Insp Ncube.

“They spotted the accused persons disembarking from a truck carrying two sacks which were concealing the ivory. The truck was coming from Hwange en route to Bulawayo. The detectives then approached the accused persons who were now standing by the side of the road and introduced themselves”

He said the police detectives then requested to search the accused persons and their two 50 kilogrammes sacks.

“They then recovered 5 pieces of unmarked raw ivory in one of the sacks and seven pieces of unmarked Ivory in the other sack. The accused persons were asked to produce a licence or a permit authorising them to be in possession of the raw unmarked ivory and they failed to produce it.  We would like to appreciate members of the public for the faith they have in their police service and for supplying this vital information that led to the arrest of the accused persons.”