Pretoria-based police have yet again nabbed suspects who attempted to secretly sell an endangered species, a pangolin, which continues to be a problematic crime in the region.

On Friday, four people were arrested during a street sale of a pangolin when the sellers were promised R50 000 in a police trap.

Boschkop police spokesperson sergeant Yeroboam Mbatsane said the four suspects were arrested after police received information that a pangolin had been offered for sale. The police then set a trap for the suspects.

“An agent was introduced and successfully infiltrated as a potential buyer.

“A meeting was scheduled to conclude the transaction at Makro Silverlakes in Tshwane on Friday, ” Mbatsane said.

When the agent arrived at the selling point, he met a 34-year-old man from Limpopo. A 46-year-old woman arrived carrying a bag in which a pangolin was found when the bag was inspected, Mbatsane said.

Mbatsane said two other suspects from Tembisa were arrested in Silverlakes the following day, as accomplices in the case.

“The suspects will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court court on April 11.

“Their bail is going to be opposed by the State until the suspects’ statuses, including pending cases, previous convictions, and their risk profiles are established. Mbatsane said the female pangolin, weighing 3.84kg, was taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

He said although the endangered animals are found in provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and parts of Zimbabwe, it was not yet clear where the suspects had obtained the pangolin in this case.

While the illegal selling of pangolin remains a “very problematic” crime in the region, Mbatsane said the police had arrested suspects in 90% of the cases.

The endangered animal was sold for more than R50 000 in most cases, he added.