Vietnamese man in court for massive rhino horn theft
A Vietnamese national has appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court in the Western Cape in connection with a major wildlife trafficking investigation.
According to the Hawks, 52-year-old Bao Trung was arrested on Tuesday while attempting to board a flight to Singapore.
His passport was flagged after an arrest warrant was issued by the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court.
Trung has been linked to a Kempton Park case involving the possession of rhino horns and predator bones allegedly sourced from Haartebeesfontein in the North West.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the rhino horns are believed to be connected to a reported staged robbery at Voi Farm in Hartbeesfontein in December last year.
Ninety-eight rhino horns were stolen during the purported robbery.
“During an investigation, it was found that 17 of the recovered rhino horns on 1 December 2025 were part of the 98 robbed rhino horns on 8 December 2025. It was further established that the owner of the rhino horns was a Vietnamese national who was suspiciously not present at the time of the robbery.”
As part of the probe, a vehicle suspected of being used in the commission of the crime was traced to Woodhill Golf Estate in Pretoria.
The case against Trung was postponed to 2 March, when he will line up in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
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