Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

They even took their time

[Richprins]

160kg of rhino horn seized in major SARS bust at OR Tambo airport

Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) made a major bust of rhino horns weighing 160kg at the OR Tambo airport on Saturday.
Corne van Zyl


A total of 160kg of rhino horns were seized in a major bust at the OR Tambo International Airport by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on Saturday.

“Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized 32 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 160kg, at a cargo transit shed at the OR Tambo International Airport.”

It said that customs officers were conducting manifest profiling with the Detector Dog Unit at the airport when one of the dogs identified a suspicious shipment destined to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).

“The shipment was declared as “Live Plants” and consisted of 8 pieces. During a physical inspection, six boxes were found containing traditional material concealing, 32 pieces of rhino horn protected with bubble wrap, weighing 160kg.”

The South African Police Services’ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) was alerted about the detection.

“A criminal case was registered with the police for further investigation.”

Last month the Hawks swooped on two suspects for dealing in rhino horns to the value of R2,4 million in the Freestate.

Hawks spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, said that members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit had arrested the two suspects, aged 31 and 72, in Vryburg.

The suspects were charged for dealing in the horns.



Rikhotso said the pair were arrested during a buy and bust operation where they allegedly attempted to sell the horns.

The suspects’ vehicle, was searched and found two rhino horns worth approximately R2.4 million.

Both Rhino horns were seized for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in February, a total of 18 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 63kg declared as ‘HP Cartridges Developers’ was also seized at the OR Tambo International Airport. It was bound for Malaysia.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries reports that 394 rhinos were killed in South Africa over the last year.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/br ... pIaPRG5McA

[Lisbeth]

At least 20 rhinos killed

[Klipspringer]

Perhaps not a poaching case, but illegal trade

https://lowvelder.co.za/741572/suspects ... -mbombela/

21 JULY 2021
Suspects arrested for possession of 19 rhino horns in Mbombela
Stefan de Villiers

One suspect is a well-known local businessman and the other a Limpopo game farmer.

Shock waves are making their way through the Lowveld as a well-known local businessman and a Limpopo game farmer were arrested for the possession of 19 rhino horns in Mbombela today.

The Hawks confirmed the arrest and said the horns are estimated to be worth millions. The arrest was made late this afternoon in an operation driven by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in the Riverside area.

The suspects are expected to make a court appearance either on Thursday or Friday.

They will be detained until then. Their identities are known to Lowvelder, but they cannot be named as they have yet to appear in court.

The Hawks confirmed that a full statement will be released tomorrow.

[RogerFraser]

Will wait and see apparently the one suspect is an old hand at court appearances by the rumor mill online if it is the person mentioned with initial DG he is on bail already .

[Lisbeth]

Nothing about the circumstances Domestic trade is permitted, depending of course on the origin of the horns.

[Klipspringer]

Two suspects, aged 19 and 48, who were found allegedly in possession of 19 rhino horns, are expected to appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s court in Mpumalanga, on Thursday.

The horns are estimated to have a value of R2.6 million.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says the two suspects are charged with illegal possession and selling of rhino horn.

Mogale says, “In a multidisciplinary operation conducted yesterday by the Hawks’ Organised Crime Investigation, Wildlife Trafficking Counter-Intelligence and private sector to curb wildlife trafficking in Nelspruit, the two suspects were detained…”

“They were charged for illegal possession and selling of rhino horns. Their vehicles were impounded for further investigation. An investigation to ascertain if the suspects are linked to crimes contravening the Endangered Species Act is continuing,” Mogale added.

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/two-a ... nga-court/

[RogerFraser]

Julian Rademeyer
@julianrademeyer

Confirmed: Notorious Limpopo game farmer and alleged rhino horn trafficker Dawie Groenewald is behind bars again after being arrested along with Schalk Abraham Steyn on charges of illegal possession and selling of 19 rhino horns.

[Lisbeth]

Still no details

[Klipspringer]

Schalk Abraham Steyn:

https://lowvelder.co.za/434307/local-ma ... alo-fraud/

https://lowvelder.co.za/445420/local-ma ... alo-fraud/

https://www.absteynsafaris.com/en/