PlantZAfrica
A 24-year-old man has been jailed for an effective eight years for illegally transporting and trading in a protected plant species.
The National Prosecuting Authority says Hanro Owies was convicted for contravening the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act of 2009.
He was sentenced in the Springbok regional court this week
“In December 2022, the DPCI (Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Springbok received intelligence-driven information about illegal dealings involving the Conophytum plant, a highly sought-after and protected species in Garies, in the Namakwa area," said NPA regional spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane.
He said the team immediately launched an undercover operation along the N7 route near a private farm, where the accused was expected to meet a potential buyer.
“In a hasty move, Owies approached an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, believing it to be the buyers.
“He was promptly arrested by members of the Hawks, who found 2,863 Conophytum plants in his possession,” Senokoatsane said.
He said the court also sentenced Owies to a further eight years for transporting the plants, but ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
