The three men who were allegedly found in possession of a rhino horn 10 days ago will apply for bail in April.
Rajen Moodley of Phoenix, Sthembiso Luthuli of Richards Bay, and Samkeliso Sibiya of Ulundi, appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Senior state advocate Yuri Gangai, who will be prosecuting the case, said the State was opposed to bail being granted.
The men are charged with dealing and being in possession of a rhino horn.
They were arrested in a sting operation by police at Battery Beach, on the Durban beachfront.
According to the charge sheet, the horn is worth about R3 million.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said at the time of the arrests the men had been caught after the police had heard they were trying to sell a rhino horn for R1.5m. Police officers then posed as prospective buyers and met the men at the beachfront. Once the horn was handed over, the men were arrested by officers from the National Intervention Unit.
A handful of protesters, opposed to rhino poaching, gathered outside the court on Tuesday.
They said they would return for the bail application.
The case was adjourned to April 26 and the men were remanded to the Durban Central police cells. - The Mercury