Officials pounce on alleged poachers
CO-OPERATION between South African National Parks (SANParks) officials, rangers and protection services, along with SAPS officers, saw four alleged rhino poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park on Saturday, police said.
Information at police disposal revealed that the SANParks officials had received information about four suspects who were reportedly about to exit the park travelling in two vehicles, Colonel Mtsholi Bhembe said.
The officials pounced on them, with the assistance of a SANParks helicopter that had to land on the road to block the fleeing suspects’ vehicles.
The men, among them a SANParks employee, were searched. Items found in their possession included a freshly cut set of rhino horns, a hunting rifle, and ammunition.
They were arrested, with all the exhibits, including the two vehicles, being confiscated.
The suspects, aged between 23 and 47, would appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court today, on charges including illegal hunting, possession of a hunting rifle and ammunition without a licence, and trespassing, Bhembe said. |