Eight rhino poachers arrested
Members of the South African Police Service, who have been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces as part of Operation Rhino, arrested eight suspects in the past seven days.
The suspects were arrested for possession of firearms, hijackings, conspiracy to poach and possession of rhino horns.
SAPS says between the eight of them, whose ages range from 19 to 40 years, they found seven firearms, 45 rounds of ammunition, a hijacked vehicle, hunting knives as well as axes.
"They were arrested in around Mtubatuba KwaZulu-Natal, Phalaborwa in Limpopo and Skukuza in Mpumalanga," the Hawks' Hangwani Mulaudzi told Jacaranda FM News.
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According to a staetment members of Operation Rhino, who comprise of forensic experts, Detectives, the National Intervention Unit, Crime Intelligence and the Tactical Response Team, effected these arrests during intelligence driven operations in the national parks and the areas adjacent these parks.
All of the eight have already appeared in the local magistrate’s court in Skukuza, Mhala, Hluhluwe, Mkhuze, Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit, and their cases were postponed to different dates for bail application and further investigations.
- Press Release