Human Interest
Suspected rhino poachers nabbed in Limpopo─── 08:47 Mon, 21 May 2018
Three men suspected of being part of a rhino poaching syndicate were arrested at a roadblock on the R40 in Hoedspruit, outside Phalaborwa, on Friday evening.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, said the men had been stopped as part of a joint provincial operation, Uya Pamwe, which comprised of police, the Hoedspruit Farm Watch, the Young Civilians on Patrol (YCOP) and the Community Policing Forum (CPF).
He said the arrests followed after members had stopped a speeding car at the roadblock.
"Upon searching the vehicle, over R200 000 in cash, as well as the ear, a nose and a tail believed to be of a white rhino, were found in [the men's] possession," he said.
Ngoepe said upon further investigation, it was determined that one of the men was out on R5 000 bail for a rhino-poaching related case.
He said investigations were still ongoing, and that the three suspects, aged, 25, 39 and 49 years would appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrate's Court on Monday.
