Rhino horn worth more than R23-million was seized at OR Tambo International Airport on January 9.
According to police spokesperson Lt Col Katlego Mogale 36 pieces of rhino horns were seized during an ongoing operation to rid the airport of criminal activities.
“Recent reports of the detection of rhino horns in the East, originating from Southern Africa led to increased enforcement interventions on outbound flights at the cargo area of the airport,” he said.
“The multi-disciplinary team at OR Tambo International Airport, which comprises various government departments and members from various disciplines in the South African Police Service, Customs and Excise, ACSA Security and other stakeholders are on alert and continue to work tirelessly to stop contraband, including rhino horns, from being smuggled through this port of entry.”
The horns were discovered by the K9 unit while performing searches at several cargo warehouses. They arrived at a certain warehouse where export consignments were packed to be shipped out.
A K9 detector dog, Lizzy, reacted positively to a shipment destined for Dubai in the Middle East.
According to the SA Revenue Service (Sars), the pieces of horn were found in a consignment of so-called ‘decoration items’.
Customs officials cut open eight boxes attached together with bubble wrap. The horns were hidden underneath cut laminated wooden sheets in four of the boxes which were otherwise filled with doormats and decorative items. The total weight of the horns was 116kg, valued at an about R23.2-m. The street value of these horns is assumed to be much higher.
