Tebogo Msimanga |
A 53-year-old Warrant Officer attached to the Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Gauteng and his 39-year-old female accomplice are appearing before the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday, for allegedly dealing in rhino horns.
It is alleged that in May 2019, the pair allegedly dropped off a consignment in a warehouse at Pomona declared as wine, destined for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the Hawks’ were alerted about the suspicious wine consignment. “Upon arrival at the warehouse, authorities searched the wooden crate containing wine and found thirty rhino horns wrapped in plastic concealed under the crate.”
Mulamu added that further investigation led the police to positively identified shipment senders, a police official and a court interpreter. Warrants of arrest were issued for their apprehension.
“An intelligence operation was conducted in Brakpan and Basonia on Thursday,16 September 2021 where both suspects were successfully arrested.” She said more arrests cannot be ruled out as investigation is continuing.
