Cape Town – A 43-year-old man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after Bidvest security guards discovered suspicious items in his luggage.
The man, a foreign national, was about to board a flight to Vietnam via Qatar.
Upon inspection, lion bones were found.
The police also seized foreign currency, a cellphone, and two passports.
#sapsGP A 43yr-old man will appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 26 June 2023 after he was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport earlier today, 23/6/23 with lion bones. #Hawks TMhttps://t.co/sp4um76eu0 pic.twitter.com/nJmDi9XRvq
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 23, 2023
“The suspect was arrested when the Bidvest security guards at the airport discovered suspicious items in his luggage. The Germiston based Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources members were alerted. The luggage was opened and lion bones were recovered. The suspect was about to board a flight to Vietnam via Qatar.
“Police further seized foreign currency, a cellphone and two passports. During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that it is the carcasses of five lions. The suspect will be charged for illegal dealing in wildlife, possession of lion bones and contravening the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA),” police spokesperson Captain Bonnie Nxumalo said.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking to arrest more suspects.
The man will appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 26 June.
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Picture: Twitter/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
