Second arrest in Hartbeesfontein staged rhino horn theft

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The Hawks have arrested a second foreign national in a wildlife trafficking case involving rhino horns that may have been hidden behind a fake robbery in North West province.

A 44-year-old foreign national was arrested in Heidelberg on Wednesday and was due to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

ALSO READ: South Africa deploys troops in Johannesburg to tackle organized crime

The man will appear on charges of contravening the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said.

The suspect was allegedly involved in “the staged theft of rhino horns at Haartebeesfontein”. The allegation suggests police believe the robbery may have been used to cover up the illegal movement of the rhino horns.

The Hawks said warrants were executed in Centurion and Heidelberg in an intelligence driven operation involving members of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s Wildlife Trafficking