Cops caught in anti-poaching bust
Two Pretoria police officers among those arrested for rhino poaching.
Three police officers and nine other people were arrested in a massive anti-poaching bust by the Hawks this week.
Two of the officers were from the Akasia police station and the third from Rustenburg police station, said Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
The other people were believed to be the ringleaders of a rhino poaching syndicate.
Mulaudzi said the 12 people were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Gauteng and North West.
“‘Operation Ringleader’ was conducted in conjunction with crime intelligence, the department of environmental affairs and tourism, and the police forensic science laboratory and the National Prosecuting Authority.”
Eight luxury cars, eight rifles, five pistols, three small scales, an electrical hacksaw, four rhino horns, chopped up rhino horns and R1.1 million in cash were seized.
The total value of all the seized items, including the money, was estimated to be R6 million.
Lieutenant-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, head of the Hawks, praised the work of the teams that made the bust, calling it “sterling work”.
“We are pleased with the arrest and resultant confiscations. This successful operation yet again illustrates the good working relationship we have with our stakeholders,” he said.
“I want to warn poachers that the Hawks will leave no stone unturned in the fight against rhino poaching and we will ensure poachers are brought to book and convicted.”
He said the Hawks would continue the current operation until all syndicates were wiped out.
“The broom is still sweeping.”
Mulaudzi said the 12 were expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, on charges of money laundering and racketeering, corruption and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
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