News / National
Police probe Grace Mugabe ivory deals worth millions
25 Mar 2018 at 06:03hrs | Views
Police are investigating former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe for allegedly smuggling ivory worth millions of dollars to underground foreign markets, the state media reported on Sunday.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority investigators have since submitted key documents relevant to the allegations to the police.
Preliminary indications are Mrs Mugabe spirited large consignments of ivory to China, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, among other destinations.
She could be questioned by law enforcement soon, alongside officials in the Office of the President and Cabinet who she allegedly ordered to facilitate the illicit deals.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told The Sunday Mail, "A report was made by an anonymous source and investigations are on, although still in early stages."
Information at hand suggests Mrs Mugabe ordered officials to issue her with export permits under the pretext that she was sending the ivory to leaders of various countries as "gifts".
Once outside Zimbabwe, it is alleged, the "gifts" would be pooled with other consignments of the product and routed to black markets.
It is believed Mrs Mugabe involved OPC officials in obtaining the permits which are issued in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority investigators have since submitted key documents relevant to the allegations to the police.
Preliminary indications are Mrs Mugabe spirited large consignments of ivory to China, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, among other destinations.
She could be questioned by law enforcement soon, alongside officials in the Office of the President and Cabinet who she allegedly ordered to facilitate the illicit deals.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba told The Sunday Mail, "A report was made by an anonymous source and investigations are on, although still in early stages."
Information at hand suggests Mrs Mugabe ordered officials to issue her with export permits under the pretext that she was sending the ivory to leaders of various countries as "gifts".
Once outside Zimbabwe, it is alleged, the "gifts" would be pooled with other consignments of the product and routed to black markets.
It is believed Mrs Mugabe involved OPC officials in obtaining the permits which are issued in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Source - The Sunday Mail
