Cape Town – A South African woman leaving the country for Dubai was reportedly arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after she was found in possession of a dozen rhino horns.
Reports indicated that the interception of the horns, which weighed 30.7kg, was conducted by Customs officers of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), after they received a tip-off regarding a passenger travelling to Dubai.
They stopped and searched her.
“The two luggage bags and a box were inspected by a baggage scanner that identified irregular images suspected to be rhino horn.
“This led to a physical inspection of the luggage and box in which 12 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 30.7kg, were found. The passenger and the rhino horns were handed to the police, after which a criminal case was opened for investigation,” Times Live quoted SARS as saying.
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SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that a total of 125 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 452kg, were seized at OR Tambo International Airport between July 2020 and December 2021, according to IOL,
“We will leave no stone unturned to detect and prosecute these criminal syndicates and individuals who break the law.
“SARS and the law enforcement agencies will spare no efforts to ensure they are brought to book,” the report quoted Kieswetter as saying.
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Composed by Mihlali Vellem
