Cape Town – Hawks have arrested two men after they were found in possession of rhino horns valued at R876 000.
Suspects, Junior Chauke aged 49 and Prince Ntsako Letswele aged 33 remained in custody after they appeared at the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court and the case was postponed.
The two were arrested after police received information about a vehicle with firearms traveling towards Ermelo, the Hawks said.
“The police went to the direction of the road where the vehicle was coming from, and spotted it. The suspects in the vehicle tried to flee upon seeing the police but were both arrested,” said Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi in a statement.
#sapsHAWKS Two men were remanded in custody by the Ermelo Magistrates’ Court on 09/12 following their arrest on 08/12 for the possession of rhino horns weighing 14,6 kg to the value of R 876 000. Firearms were also seized. NP https://t.co/al0Oq1LqBC pic.twitter.com/aTeLHUz6Iq
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) December 13, 2022
The Secunda-based Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation team was summoned and the crime scene was handed over to them for processing.
“The white Toyota (Hilux) was searched in the presence of the suspects. During the search, two big and two small rhino horns weighing 14,6 kilograms to the value of R876 000 were found inside the (paper) bag hidden in the engine compartment. The rhino horns and the vehicle were confiscated for further investigation,” said Sekgotodi.
The case was postponed to 14 December 2022 for profiling and legal representative.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter\ @SAPoliceService
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
