Cape Town man arrested for rhino horn trafficking while boarding flight to Singapore

A 52-year-old suspect was arrested at the Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday and is due to appear in the Belville Magistrates’ Court on charges related to rhino horn trafficking. A 52-year-old man was arrested at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday as he was about to board a flight to Singapore with his family, in connection with an alleged rhino horn trafficking case. The arrest was confirmed on Wednesday by theDirectorate for Priority Crime Investigation(Hawks).

According to the Hawks, the suspect’s movements were flagged, leading to the execution of an authorised warrant of arrest on Tuesday. He was expected to appear briefly in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The warrant was issued by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court, with the DPCI Western Cape assisting in carrying out the arrest.

The suspect has been linked to a Kempton Park case involving the possession of rhino horns and predator bones allegedly originating from Hartbeesfontein in North West. Authorities said the matter relates to alleged contraventions of theNational Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act. National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act Police allege that the robbery may have been staged.

[paywall]

It was further established during the investigation that the owner of the rhino horns, described as a Vietnamese national, was not present at the time of the reported robbery. Investigators also traced a vehicle suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime to Woodhill Golf Estate in Pretoria. Search warrants were obtained and executed in a joint operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s Wildlife Trafficking section, Tactical Operations Management Section, SAPS K9 Pretoria, Forensic Science Laboratories and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

A Toyota Prado, suspected of having been used in the commission of a crime, was seized during the operation. The Hawks said they remain committed to tackling wildlife trafficking and related serious organised crime.

[/paywall]