Lion bone syndicate caught

[RogerFraser]

https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspee ... JBx2REXrIU

Media Statement from Directorate for Priority Crime
HAWKS
South African Police Service



North West - An intelligence driven operation conducted by the Hawks’ North West Serious Organised Crime Unit assisted by Crime intelligence, Klerksdorp TRT, Potchefstroom flying squad and the Department of Nature Conservation has led to the arrest of eight suspects aged between 22 and 60 yesterday for the alleged illegal possession of game products.

The team intercepted two vehicles at the intersection of N12 and Dominionville driving in a convoy headed to an unused farm in Mareetsane. A search of both vehicles the team recovered lion bones, lion meat, a tiger skin, gas cylinders, gas burners , containers, a saw, knives and other equipment which is believed to have been used to process the lion bones.

The suspects took the team to another farm approximately 30km from Klerksdorp where the lions were allegedly slaughtered. At the farm, a lion skin was found dumped in the bush and large machines which are believed to have been the instruments for cutting the bones were also found in the garage.

The eight suspects are expected to make their first court appearance tomorrow at the Klerksdorp magistrate’s court to face a charges of Illegal possession of game products and without a permit, carrying out restricted activities involving a specimen of a listed, threatened or protected species.

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SA: A joint operation was conducted by members of Intelligence Collection Region 1 Potchefstroom together with members of DPCI and Flying Squard Potch and Klerksdorp after IC has collected info regarding Whites and Vietnamies that are busy targeting North-West Province by stealing lions and killing them for the bones.IC members were keeping observation after information was received that they killed 10 lions on Friday 2018-11-23 and killed about 30 yesterday on 2018-11-24 at the farm at N12 between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad.The suspects were driving from Farm at N12 to the other farm around Coligny and IC members liased infor with other members and info has led to the arrest of two(2)wgite males and five(5) Vietnamese males and seizure of two vehicles:white toyota hi-lux and silver toyota lexus suv and lions meet and bones.

[Richprins]

[Alf]

great work

[Flutterby]

[Klipspringer]

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/six-vietnames ... 155328.vnp

Six Vietnamese law violators in South Africa return home
VNA MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019 - 15:56:00 PRINT


Pretoria (VNA) – Six Vietnamese nationals, who were detained in South Africa in 2018 for violating the country’s biodiversity act on protection of threatened species, left the country for home on June 30 after performing their obligations to the court’s rulings.

South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as Hawks, announced on November 25, 2018 that six Vietnamese were nabbed while driving in a convoy in Klerksdorp, the North West Province, which is about 250 kilometres to the northwest of the capital Pretoria.

A search of the vehicles found a large quantity of freshly cut lion meat and bones, a tiger skin and bonds, gas cylinders, gas burners, containers, a saw, knives, and other equipment used to process predator carcasses and bones.

The syndicate members were charged with illegal possession of game products, particularly lion parts and a tiger carcass, without a permit, and carrying out restricted activities involving the specimen of a listed, threatened or protected species.

Five among them committed offence, and agreed to pay 8,000-50,000 Rand (567-3,545 USD) in fine in lieu of imprison. Charges against the remainder were withdrawn at the court’s trial on June 28, 2019.

The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa kept a close watch on the case, sent representatives to attend trials, and sent diplomatic notes to competent authorities in the host nation to protect legitimate rights of the Vietnamese citizens when they were remanded in custody for seven months.

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Vu Van Dung said that the embassy repeated its warning to all Vietnamese visitors to South Africa and those living in the host nation to comply with local and Vietnamese law, and not to commit any activities that harm Vietnam’s prestige.-VNA

[Richprins]

Good! Let that be a lesson!

[Flutterby]

[Lisbeth]

violating the country’s biodiversity act on the protection of threatened species,

This is nonsense! Those were not poached lions. It is allowed to raise lions for the purpose of selling lion bones. At most, they can be accused of theft.

[Klipspringer]

Man arrested with lion bones
3 October 2019, 10:20 AM | Sashin Naidoo | @SABCNewsOnline

During an intelligence driven operation at OR Tambo International Airport, a man 34, was arrested for the illegal possession of lion bones. He is expected to appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.

The Hawks together with the Ekurhuleni Metro Police found twelve boxes of lion bones in a cargo container, which was understood to have been destined for Malaysia.

Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Ndivuwo Mulamu says, “Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) SWAT unit and Crime Intelligence intercepted a suspicious consignment on Tuesday.”

“The resultant search of the cargo led to the recovery of twelve boxes filled with what was later established to be lion bones reportedly destined for Malaysia. The suspect was immediately apprehended and has been charged for contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA),” added Mulamu.

The Act provides for the management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity. It also provides for the protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection; the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources; the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bioprospecting involving indigenous biological resources; the establishment and functions of a South African National Biodiversity Institute.

http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/man-ar ... ion-bones/

[Richprins]