6 hours agoFour arrested in P3 Million rhino horn heist in Gantsi

In a significant development that marks a turning point in Botswana’s longstanding battle against rhino poaching, law enforcement agencies have apprehended four suspects linked to the killing of a rhinoceros and the illicit harvesting of its horn at a private ranch in Gantsi. Authorities describe the operation as a meticulously planned covert mission. The horn, estimated to be worth approximately P3 million on the black market, was reportedly already destined for sale.

Intelligence indicates the suspects had identified a potential buyer before their arrest. Sources reveal that at least four of the suspects had been under surveillance in connection with a previous rhino killing at another private farm in Gantsi, months earlier. Investigators are probing whether this latest incident was facilitated by insider collusion.

The targeted rhino had been isolated from its herd and confined in a kraal prior to its death, raising troubling questions about internal coordination. Officials are also scrutinizing how the suspects managed to penetrate a heavily guarded property without detection by personnel from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), tasked with safeguarding rhino populations, alongside farm workers. The four men were detained near Boatle village while en route to Gaborone.

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Intelligence reports suggest they had secured a buyer willing to pay P3 million for the horn. Unconfirmed sources imply this may not be their first involvement in rhino poaching, as detectives explore possible links to unresolved killings in the Okavango Delta around 2020, where several rhinos were slaughtered without any arrests. Detective Superintendent Kenosi Tsanang, head of the Narcotics, Fauna, and Flora Investigations Unit within the Botswana Police Service, confirmed to the Weekend Post that the inquiry is ongoing.

“It is true that my unit is investigating a case in which a rhino was allegedly killed in one of the rhino farms in the Gantsi area,” he said. Tsanang explained that the police received a report months ago about a rhino killed by unknown perpetrators. Following an extensive manhunt and surveillance operation, four suspects were arrested near Boatle while traveling to Gaborone.

“At the present moment, investigations are centred on the four suspects. It is possible the number of suspects may increase or decrease, that is the nature of investigations,” he added. The suspects were interrogated and subsequently released as inquiries continue.

Tsanang hailed the arrests as a landmark achievement in Botswana’s anti-poaching efforts over the past decade and a half. He assured the public that once investigations conclude, formal charges will be filed, and the suspects will appear before the Gantsi Magistrate’s Court. He further disclosed that two of the principal suspects are under investigation for their involvement in another poaching case.

When contacted, BDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Fana Maswabi acknowledged the military’s role in supporting government wildlife conservation efforts as part of its national security mandate but declined to discuss operational specifics. “In this context, the BDF does not comment on operational matters, specific incidents, deployments, or investigative processes,” Maswabi said. He emphasized that alleged poaching incidents, arrests, and investigations fall under the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

“Rhino protection in Botswana is implemented through a coordinated multi-agency approach with clearly defined institutional roles. The BDF remains committed to supporting national conservation objectives while observing operational discretion and professional standards,” he added. This arrest unfolds against a disturbing backdrop.

In 2023, former Minister of Tourism and Environment Philda Kereng informed Parliament of a sharp increase in rhino poaching in 2020. Official records document the loss of seven rhinos in 2018, 30 in 2019, 62 in 2020, 33 in 2021, and six in 2022, a total of 138 animals slain over five years. Kereng attributed the surge to escalating international demand for rhino horn and the displacement of criminal syndicates from other parts of Southern Africa. Though anti-poaching measures have curtailed incidents in recent years, conservationists warn that the lucrative black-market trade continues to lure organized crime networks.

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