[NFSV] Alleged poacher caught with fresh meat
[Not for sensitive viewers] Police found the head of an impala in bloody containers after stopping and searching a suspicious motorist earlier this morning.
A man believed to be from Munsieville was arrested in the early hours of this morning (4 May) shortly after police had pulled over his red Opel. The man allegedly had skipped the red traffic light at the Paardekraal and Voortrekker Roads intersection.
Police noticed that the vehicle was carrying a substantial load and when they searched it, they made a disturbing discovery. Meat and intestines in cooler boxes and bags soaked in blood were in the car.
The officers quickly made a few calls and took the suspect along with the vehicle to the police station where they met up with members from the K9 Unit and a representative of the Green Scorpions.
The suspect was arrested and Constable Mothupi, Warrant Officer Arends, Sergeant Jones and Constable McDonald questioned him about being in possession of the animal carcass parts.
As Stefan du Toit from the Green Scorpions unpacked the meat from the cooler boxes, they discovered the carcasses of two animals including a head of what seemed to be an impala.
Du Toit noticed predator fly eggs on the meat, suggesting that the antelope had been killed around three days before.
He explained that the flies usually lay their eggs within a few hours after the animals were slaughtered, suggesting the carcasses had been stored elsewhere in the meantime.
It was said that once the paperwork had been done, the meat would be transported to the Lion and Rhino Park where it would be fed to the lions.
“Police are investigating the case to determine where the animals had been poached,” West Rand Police Cluster spokesperson, Captain Appel Ernst said.
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