Four Harare men were last week arrested at Avondale Shopping Centre leading to the recovery of 15 elephant tusks weighing 33,4kg, valued at $8 350.
The alleged ivory dealers, George Chatanga (42), Farai Dzvairo (33), Sherpered Naite (37) and Kenneth Sibanda (49), were nabbed by the police.
The four appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei charged with unlawful possession of, or trading in ivory and were remanded to May 3, on $50 bail each.
They were not asked to plead.
It is alleged the four were at Avondale shopping centre where they were reportedly waiting for prospective ivory buyers.
Police detectives only identified in court papers as Manyumbu and Makonese were on a surveillance mission at the shopping centre when they received information that Chatanga, Dzvairo, Naite and Sibanda were allegedly armed and involved in illicit dealings at the shopping centre.
Acting on the tip-off, the detectives, in the company of two other uniformed officers, arrested and took the suspects to Avondale Police Station for interrogation.
It is alleged that during interrogation, the detectives gathered information that the accused had a vehicle parked at the shopping centre and further investigations led to the recovery of 15 elephant tusks from a truck.
