News / National
Zimra officer nabbed over 417kg of ivory
22 Sep 2013 at 04:33hrs | Views
POLICE have arrested a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officer and a clearing agent from Harare after 417kg of ivory from the country were recovered at Dubai International Airport, deputy commissioner general Innocent Matibiri said.
"The ivory was recovered in Dubai en-route to Malaysia and investigations are under way. We are also working with Interpol on the matter," he said.
However, sources close to the case said the ivory left the country via Harare International Airport as unaccompanied luggage in July but stamps were indicating that they had left through the Victoria Falls International Airport.
The source said once at Dubai International Airport, the luggage was not claimed and the authorities then opened it so that they could trace it back to the sender.
"On tracing it back, it was discovered that the luggage, which had been cleared as culture artifacts, was indeed 417kg of ivory.
Investigations also showed that the ivory was from the country. Further investigations led to the arrest of a Zimra officer and clearing agent," said the source.
"The ivory was recovered in Dubai en-route to Malaysia and investigations are under way. We are also working with Interpol on the matter," he said.
However, sources close to the case said the ivory left the country via Harare International Airport as unaccompanied luggage in July but stamps were indicating that they had left through the Victoria Falls International Airport.
The source said once at Dubai International Airport, the luggage was not claimed and the authorities then opened it so that they could trace it back to the sender.
"On tracing it back, it was discovered that the luggage, which had been cleared as culture artifacts, was indeed 417kg of ivory.
Investigations also showed that the ivory was from the country. Further investigations led to the arrest of a Zimra officer and clearing agent," said the source.
Source - Sunday News
