Picture: Three suspects arrested for being in possession of protected plants worth R3.5m/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Three men aged 23, 41 and 47 were arrested for being in possession of protected plants worth R3.5 million in Nieuwoudtville on 6 February 2024. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said the police received a tip-off regarding the poaching of protected plants and made a follow-up.
Kock further said the police from Nieuwoudtville SAPS Visible Policing, Nieuwoudtville Detectives and the Oorlogskloof Nature Conservation personnel, allegedly caught the suspects red-handed with 518 Clavias Maribilius plants and 29 Clavias Maribilius seeds with a street value of R3 506 000 in Nieuwoudtville.
“The suspects will appear in the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court soon,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the Nieuwoudtville SAPS, the Oorlogskloof Nature Conservation and the community for the outstanding success. Otola reiterated that robust community participation in the fight against crime is key and police, together with communities can and will win the fights against criminality.
The Guardian 