A 52-year-old suspect linked to rhino poaching will today appear before the Bellville Magistrate Court.
The suspect, who was about to board a flight to Singapore with his family, was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Western Cape, which assisted in executing the arrest warrant, as issued by the Kempton Park Magistrate Court.
“The suspect has been linked to a Kempton Park case of possession of rhino horns and predator bones, which were discovered to have been from Haartebeesfontein in the North West. This is in contravention of sections of the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act. [The suspect’s arrest follows] the arrest of two Nigerian nationals on 1 December 2025,” the police said in a statement.
The rhino horns are alleged to have been from a staged robbery reported on 8 December 2025 at Voi Farm, Hartbeesfontein, where 98 rhino horns were allegedly stolen.
Upon further investigation, it was found that 17 of the recovered rhino horns on 1 December 2025 were part of the 98 rhino horns stolen 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.
“The vehicle which was suspected to have been used as an instrument to commit the crime was traced to Woodhill Golf Estate in Pretoria, wherein search warrants were applied for and approved.
“The warrants were executed in joint operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s Wildlife Trafficking section headquarters (HQ), with the assistance of the Tactical Operations Management Section, SAPS K9 Pretoria, Forensic Science Laboratories and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment HQ,” the police said.
The operation resulted in the seizure of a Toyota Prado, which is suspected to have been used in a commission of a crime.
The acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Patrick Mbotho, reiterated that the DPCI will remain steadfast in stamping out wildlife trafficking and related serious organised crime. – SAnews.gov.za
