South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the sentencing of a rhino poaching kingpin and his accomplice, who has been targeting the Kruger National Park.
Simon Valoi, who goes by the name "Navara" was sentenced to 27 years in prison by a Mozambican court.
His accomplice, Paulo Zukula was handed a sentence of 24 years behind bars.
The pair were found guilty of crimes relating to financing terrorism, poaching, the sale of protected species, money laundering, the use of banned weapons, the use of forged documents, the sale of illegal guns and vehicles, and criminal conspiracy.
Navara, who hails from Massingir (a district about 330km north of Maputo on the border adjacent to the Kruger National Park), is known for recruiting young men from his hometown to hunt rhinos across the border.
SANParks Head of Communication, JP Louw said the pair were arrested in Maputo in July 2022.
They were arrested by members of the Wildlife Justice National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), following a coordinated intelligence operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission.
During their arrest, authorities seized rhino horns.
The Wildlife Justice Commission's mandate is dismantling organised crime network trafficking in wildlife, timber, and fish.
