Hawks arrest suspects for possession of elephant tusks
The Hawks in Gauteng arrested two suspects for being in possession of elephant tusks at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg, on Monday.
The two men, aged 42 and 40, were nabbed during a joint operation by the Hawks, the endangered species team and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan SWAT.
Spokesperson for the Gauteng Hawks Ndivhuwo Mulamu says they were aware of the two suspects selling elephant tusks.
“On arrival, the suspect’s vehicles were positively identified, and we moved swiftly and apprehended the suspects. In the boot we have found five elephant tusks wrapped in a luggage and weighing 45 kilograms.”
The suspects will appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charged of contravening the National Environment Management Biodiversity Act.