R4.5m rhino horn bust at OR Tambo

OR Tambo International Airport. File picture: Tiro Ramatlhatse

OR Tambo International Airport. File picture: Tiro Ramatlhatse

Published Oct 31, 2014

Share

Johannesburg - Two men were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday for possession of rhino horn worth an estimated R4.5 million, the SA Revenue Service said.

“As a result of specific, targeted profiling work, two foreign nationals travelling from Maputo to Vietnam via Johannesburg were intercepted in the international departures section of the airport for additional searches,” said spokeswoman Marika Muller.

A Sars detector dog, who was specifically trained to identify rhino horn, reacted positively to the two bags that the men were carrying.

The bags together contained 34 large pieces of horn, weighing 41 kilograms.

“This is the biggest ever seizure of rhino horn by the Sars customs team at OR Tambo International,” said Muller.

Sapa

Related Topics: