Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, has welcomed the arrest of a suspected rhino smuggler at OR Tambo International Airport.
In a statement Friday, the Minister congratulated members of the Green Scorpions, for their assistance in the arrest on Thursday.
“The 30-year-old Zimbabwean woman was arrested after suspicious items were noticed by private security personnel during scanning of her check-in luggage and reported to customs officials who, in turn, called the Green Scorpions to assist with identification of the items,” she said.
“The horns were found hidden amongst electronic items in a suitcase.’
The Department of Environmental Affairs said that the arrest of the Zimbabwean national in connection with the smuggling and illegal possession of rhino horns comes less than two weeks after the arrest of a 24-year-old Chinese woman at OR Tambo International who was in transit from Zambia to Hong Kong.
“The Zambian national was arrested transporting 11 rhino horn,” the Department said.
“The confiscated rhino horn will be subjected to genetic profiling by the Forensic Science Laboratory of the South African Police Service (SAPS), to determine the origin of the rhinoceros horn or possible linkages with other investigations”.
