Four men were arrested in Winterveldt early on Friday morning for possession of two tusks valued at over R40 000.
The four, aged between 27 and 45, were arrested at Block CV by members of the police’s K9 Unit.
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Spokesperson Captain Samuel Sebola said the police were tipped off by a source that men driving in two-vehicle convoy were dealing in tusks and ivory products.
“The police found the men at the address provided and upon searching them and the cars, recovered the two tusks,” said Sebola.
After initially telling the police that they were citizens, the police were able to establish that they were Batswana, Sebola said.
“They were arrested and detained at Loate Police Station.”
Sebola said the case would be referred to the organised crime unit for further investigation.
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“Whether the four men are part of a syndicate… that will form part of the investigations,” said Sebola adding that the men were expected to appear in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Poachers are now slaughtering up to 35 000 of the estimated 500 000 African elephants every year for their tusks.
A male’s two tusks can weigh more than 110 kilograms, and about half a kilo can fetch as much as R21 000 on the black market.
The ivory is so valuable because across Asia, particularly China, ivory figurines are traditional given as gifts, and ivory chopsticks, hair ornaments, and jewellery are highly prized.
“China regards ivory a cultural heritage; it is not going to ban it,” said Grace Gabriel of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Many Chinese consumers don’t realise that elephants must be killed to harvest ivory.
In one survey, more than two thirds of Chinese respondents said they thought tusks grew back like fingernails.
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Trade in tusks is the main reason elephant numbers are dropping across the globe.
Gabriel said ivory was expensive and had been used to make billiard balls, piano keys, identification chips and many other sought-after items.
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