Cape Town – A suspect trying to smuggle rhino horn weighing 26kg out of South Africa was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday.
In a statement, police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the 41-year-old suspect was arrested before he could board his flight to Singapore.
Mathe said police were alerted to “suspicious-looking items” in the suspect’s hand luggage by an airport security official.
#sapsHQ A multidisciplinary team established to prevent and clamp down on illicit activities at the OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday seized 26kg of #rhino horn carried by a man (41) destined for Singapore. The man was arrested. #EnviroCrimes MLhttps://t.co/YYcZBc6XGY pic.twitter.com/pGE3Yo2gyd
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) May 26, 2022
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“Upon further investigation and interrogation of the suspect, police found rhino horns weighing 26kg in the man’s hand luggage. The horns were seized and the 41-year-old man was arrested,” said Mathe.
He said that two cellphones were also confiscated from the suspect.
The suspect will appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face a charge of contravention of the Biodiversity act 10 of 2004.
The act prohibits the illegal trade of rhinoceros horns.
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Picture: saps.gov.za
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Composed by Olwethu Mpeshe
