A police official and a court interpreter were arrested and appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng on Friday morning for the alleged involvement in illegal dealings of rhino horn. It has taken more than two years to link the suspects to the illegal rhino horn consignment.
According to an investigation, in May 2019 a 53-year-old Warrant Officer attached to the Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Gauteng and his 39-year-old female accomplice allegedly dropped off a consignment in a warehouse at Pomona declared as wine, destined for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
The Hawks were alerted to the suspicious wine consignment and upon investigation found a wooden crate with wine, and 30 rhino horns wrapped in plastic, concealed underneath the crate.
The items were confiscated and taken to Forensic Services for further analysis. The Hawks launched an investigation and this led to the arrest of a police official and a court interpreter.
“An intelligence operation was conducted simultaneously in Brakpan and Basonia yesterday where both suspects were successfully arrested. Police seized electronic gadgets and documents for investigation. The suspects will be facing charges of illegal dealing in rhino horns and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act,” said SAPS in a statement.
More arrests cannot be ruled out as investigation continues.
ALSO READ: Changing the face of marine conservation research using drones
