Shock waves are making their way through the Lowveld as a well-known local businessman and a Limpopo game farmer were arrested for the possession of 19 rhino horns in Mbombela today.

The Hawks confirmed the arrest and said the horns are estimated to be worth millions. The arrest was made in Riverside late this afternoon in a multidisciplinary operation by the Hawks’ Organised Crime Investigation unit, Wildlife Trafficking Counter-Intelligence and the private sector to curb wildlife trafficking. 

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Col Katlego Mogale of the Hawks said the two suspects, aged 48 and 53, are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court today after they were arrested while transporting the rhino horns in two bakkies.

“They were charged for illegal possession and selling of rhino horns. Their vehicles were impounded for further investigation.”

They will be detained until then. Their identities are known to Lowvelder, but they cannot be named as they have yet to appear in court.