HARARE, Mar. 24 (NewsDay Live) – A disabled Ushewokunze man has appeared in court facing charges of illegally possessing crocodile skins valued at US$9 000.
Tom Wairesi appeared before Harare magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe and was remanded in custody. He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court due to the seriousness of the offence.
Prosecutors allege that on March 21, 2026, detectives received a tip-off that Wairesi was offering crocodile skins for sale in Ushewokunze.
An undercover detective posing as a buyer contacted him, and the two agreed to complete the deal the following day.
On March 22, the suspect directed the “buyer” to an Engen service station in Mbare, where detectives set up a sting operation.
At the meeting, the two reportedly agreed on a price of US$1 600 per skin before Wairesi produced a cardboard box containing the consignment.
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Detectives moved in and arrested him after recovering six salted crocodile skins wrapped in plastic.
He failed to produce a permit authorising possession of the wildlife products.
The skins are valued at US$9 000.