Cape Town – Three Mozambican nationals were arrested last week on Friday at the Kruger National Park after they allegedly killed and dehorned rhinos.
This came after a tourist heard a strange noise of gunshots in the park and reported the matter.
In a statement, police Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the poachers were aged between 23 and 49.
“Reports indicate that on the said day, a group of armed intruders sneaked inside the park and later gunshots were heard by a tourist who had visited the park on that day.
“The information was escalated to the field rangers and a helicopter was immediately dispatched to the scene where the sound was heard. As the chopper arrived, three men were spotted and captured in possession of a hunting rifle, a silencer, three knives, four mobile phones as well as three bags,” said Mohlala.
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Police were notified about the incident and the three suspects were arrested.
“A total of three rhino horns were found next to the spot where the suspects were found. There were also four carcasses of rhinoceros that were discovered during the incident, however the horn on the fourth animal had not yet been removed when the suspects were caught,” Mohlala said.
He said the poachers had apparently failed to dehorn the fourth rhino because the knife they were using to cut the horns had broken.
Mohlala said that preliminary investigations indicated that the three male suspects were from Mozambique and were in South Africa illegally.
They were charged with contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa, poaching-related charges, possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition and trespassing.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
