Four women, accused of trying to sell three lion cubs estimated to be worth R30 000, on a street corner in Boksburg, were arrested on Tuesday after police received a tip-off.

Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha says their unit reacted to a tip-off they received from crime intelligence.

“Following surveillance, a search and seizure operation netted the four women in Trichardts Road, Boksburg North. Three lion cubs, estimated to be about five weeks old, were rescued and taken to a vet,” he said.

The women are accused of being in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (no. 10 of 2004 and were charged with carrying out a restricted activity involving threatened/protected species without a permit alternatively unlawful purchase of specially protected game.

Two women are from the same address in Mulbarton and the other two are from the same address in Stilfontein.

The women, aged between 22 and 46, will remain in custody until their formal bail application next week Tuesday.

Boksburg SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore says the community is shocked and horrified that these animals were ‘casually’ sold on a street corner of a residential area in Boksburg.

“We are happy the perpetrators were arrested and hope that justice prevails. One can only wonder what has become of the mother of these cubs,” she says.