Picture: Rhino horns seized by the police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
12 November 2024- Three suspects were arrested for being in possession of rhino horns and protected plants in Springbok on 11 November 2024. The suspects were arrested by vigilance of a Springbok SAPS K9 team.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police received a tip-off about an unknown vehicle transporting rhino horns on the R355 road between Springbok and Gamoep. Sam said a tip-off was operationalised and a vehicle check point (VCP) was set up on the said road to stop and search all vehicles.
“The police K9 protected species dog, Ozzy, positively responded to the luggage in one of the vehicles stopped and searched. The police found protected plants with an estimated value of R45 400 and rhino horns valued at approximately R449 000.
“Three suspects aged 23, 47 and 56 respectively, were arrested. The trio appeared in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court on 12 November 2024,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, thanked the community for being the eyes and ears of the police, by reporting criminality, enabling the police to act swiftly. Andrews reiterated that the police, with the assistance of other stakeholders, will squeeze the space for criminals to operate.
The Guardian 