HARARE
–
A
Chinese
man
has
been
sentenced
to
18
years
in
prison
after
being
convicted
of
illegally
dealing
in
wildlife,
in
one
of
the
stiffest
penalties
handed
down
in
Zimbabwe’s
ongoing
crackdown
on
poaching
and
the
illicit
wildlife
trade.
A
Harare
magistrates
on
Thursday
convicted
Cong
Yanzhong,
57,
on
two
counts
of
unlawfully
dealing
in
wildlife
products.
He
was
arrested
in
July
after
detectives
recovered
7.7kg
of
rhino
horn
worth
US$240,000
and
36kg
of
raw
ivory
valued
at
just
over
US$6,000
from
his
possession
and
residence.
According
to
the
National
Prosecuting
Authority,
detectives
acting
on
a
tip-off
trailed
Cong
on
July
16.
They
intercepted
him
carrying
a
black
satchel
and
a
brown
bag,
which
were
found
to
contain
three
shrink-wrapped
rhino
horns.
He
was
unable
to
produce
the
necessary
permits
or
licences.
A
subsequent
search
of
his
Harare
home
uncovered
the
ivory
pieces,
deepening
suspicions
that
Cong
was
part
of
a
wider
trafficking
network.
The
court
imposed
an
effective
18-year
custodial
sentence.
“The
sentencing
sends
a
strong
message
that
Zimbabwe
has
zero
tolerance
for
wildlife
crime,”
the
NPA
said
in
a
statement.
“We
will
continue
to
work
tirelessly
to
protect
our
precious
natural
heritage
and
ensure
that
those
who
seek
to
profit
from
the
destruction
of
our
wildlife
face
the
full
force
of
the
law.”
Zimbabwe,
home
to
some
of
the
world’s
largest
populations
of
elephants
and
black
rhinos,
has
been
battling
sophisticated
poaching
syndicates
that
often
operate
across
borders.
Wildlife
crime
has
been
fuelled
by
demand
for
ivory
and
rhino
horn
in
parts
of
Asia,
where
they
are
prized
for
ornaments
and
traditional
medicine.
The
NPA
said
Cong’s
sentencing
should
deter
others
who
may
be
tempted
by
the
lucrative
but
illegal
wildlife
trade.