Pretoria - The police in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, have arrested four suspected rhino poachers believed to have been on their way to poach rhinos in the Kruger National Park.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi received information about suspected poachers, who would enter the Kruger National Park with the aim to shoot and dehorn the animals in the park.
“The situation was monitored and at approximately 11pm on Sunday, two suspected vehicles with four occupants were confronted by members from the Tactical Response (TRT) Unit, Stock Theft and Crime Intelligence 10 kilometres away from the Hoedspruit police station,” said Mulaudzi.
Police managed to confiscate a 458 hunting rifle and silencer, 12 pieces of live ammunition and an axe.
Mulaudzi said the origin of the fire-arm is currently being investigated and it will also be sent for ballistic tests.
The four suspects aged between 33 and 46 are from South Africa and Mozambique.
They are expected to appear in the Phalaborwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as charges under the National Environmental Biodiversity Act, which includes the conspiracy to commit a crime of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park. - SAnews.gov.za
