Man arrested in Joburg over rhino horn

"It is believed the suspect was planning to sell the horn to a potential client who did not show up," Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said in a statement.

 

The 33-year-old man was arrested on Saturday afternoon in Sandton by a crime intelligence and canine unit while he allegedly had the horn in a bag.

 

Mulaudzi said investigations to determine the horn's originality through DNA analysis is already underway, as is a check on the man's citizenry and domicile as he is believed to be a Chinese national.

 

Mulaudzi said it is illegal to sell rhino horn in South Africa without the right papers and the man allegedly did not have the documentation which would have allowed a sale.

 

Last year 1215 rhino were poached in South Africa.