According to a statement released by the Limpopo Hawks, collaborative efforts between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigations Unit, CIC National Security, D-Dass and Hoedspruit Farmwatch to curb the scourge of wildlife trafficking resulted in the arrest of a 59-year-old suspected pangolin dealer.

The suspect was arrested in Gravelotte outside Tzaneen on May 17. “The team received a tip-off about a suspect who was allegedly on the way to sell a pangolin in Hoedspruit. The team followed up on the information and a suspicious vehicle was spotted in Gravelotte,” stated Lt Col Matimba Maluleke.

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“Upon searching the suspicious vehicle, the team found a pangolin hidden in the boot inside a bag. The suspect failed to produce a permit for being in possession of a pangolin and was immediately arrested,” said Maluleke. The suspect appeared in the Namakgale Magistrate’s Court on May 19 to face charges relating to illegal dealing in endangered species (pangolin).

According to Maluleke, he was remanded in custody and his bail application was scheduled to be heard on Monday. The outcome of the court appearance was not known at the time of going to press. According to a reliable source in local anti-wildlife trafficking circles, the pangolin survived the ordeal.