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Ten people have been arrested in four provinces in connection with rhino poaching and related crimes.
The Hawks says the ringleader was arrested in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Friday, while appearing on a separate rhino poaching-related charge.
Spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko says nine others were also arrested on Friday in Polokwane in Limpopo, Ficksburg in the Free State, Potchefstroom in North West, and in Montana, Mamelodi, and Kameeldrift in Gauteng.
He says they were allegedly involved in killing 22 rhino and mutilating two others between 2008 and 2012.
Ramaloko says in total, the syndicate illegally obtained 84 rhino horns valued at nearly R22 million.
The 10 will appear in the Hatfield Magistrate's Court on Monday on poaching-related charges - including theft, fraud, malicious damage to property, money laundering, intimidation, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
