Massive crackdown on rhino poaching
Police have cracked down on rhino poaching with dozens of suspects arrested.
A multidisciplinary team, including police, have nabbed 50 suspects in connection with wildlife crime, including rhino poaching.
The suspects are between the ages of 24 and 58 years.
Police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo says the operation was in partnership with SanParks officials.
"The arrests happened over the past two months. We recovered 13 rhino horns, two elephant tusks and 19 hunting rifles in various parts of the country," Naidoo says.
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He says they also recovered 15 silencers, two pistols, a shotgun, and 155 rounds of ammunition which will be used as evidence in court.
"The suspects have appeared in various courts across three provinces for charges ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms, conspiracy to commit crime, the possession of counterfeit goods, illegal hunting and possession of rhino horns.
Naidoo says a further three suspects were arrested in Hoedspruit outside Limpopo on Monday.
They are suspected to be members of a cross-border rhino poaching syndicate linked to two cases of rhino poaching in Hoedspruit.