Pretoria - A police official, a rhino poaching ringleader and eight others have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in rhino poaching and related crimes spanning four years.
They are due to appear in court in a move commended as a victory for World Rhino Day on Monday.
The men are suspected of being part of a syndicate that illegally obtained 84 rhino horns and killed 22 rhinos valued at nearly R22 million between 2008 and 2012.
The arrest of the men was carried out across four provinces simultaneously on Friday.
“It was a joint effort led by the Hawks and involving the departments of Environmental Affairs, Tourism, Home Affairs, SAPS, crime intelligence and the Forensic Science Laboratory,” said Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko.
He said the National Prosecuting Authority, the Veterinary Council of South Africa, and Protea Coin Security were also part of the sting operation.
The alleged ringleader was nabbed at the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court where he had appeared on a separate rhino-poaching related case.
“The other suspects were arrested simultaneously in Polokwane in Limpopo, Ficksburg in the Free State, Potchefstroom in the North West and in Montana, Mamelodi and Kameeldrift in Gauteng,” said Ramaloko.
Pretoria News