The environmental affairs department on Wednesday welcomed the arrest of six men who are allegedly key members of a syndicate involved in the trafficking of rhino horn.
The department said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, arrested the men, aged between 30 and 56. The group included two alleged syndicate leaders, one right-hand man, two police officers and a former cop.
"The six were arrested by members of the Hawks, supported by the police, SANParks, the department of environmental affairs, [the SA Revenue Services] Sars and customs and excise, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority," environmental affairs spokesperson, Albi Modise.
"During the arrest luxury vehicles, cash, animal skins and suspected stolen items were confiscated."
The department said the suspects faced charges of theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, illegal buying and selling of rhino horns, corruption and money laundering.
“This is a significant and important breakthrough and is once again an example of the success of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach adopted in 2014. We hope these arrests will have a serious impact on poaching within Mpumalanga, particularly the Kruger National Park and neighbouring towns, and the smuggling of rhino horn to Gauteng and the Far East,” said Modise.
- African News Agency (ANA)
