Brazen criminal smuggle rhino horns
The revenue service has seen increased attempts to smuggle rhino horn via OR Tambo International Airport.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs unit working with police foiled an attempt to smuggle rhino horn out of the country, after receiving information about suspicious luggage en route to Abu-Dhabi recently.
The customs team dispatched officers to the baggage area where the luggage was scanned. Two items wrapped in plastic were taken to the customs search area, where the luggage was rescanned and searched. On inspection, 17 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 25kg were found. Police took the passenger to the International Police Station, and the goods were handed to them for further investigation.
The revenue service has seen increased attempts to smuggle rhino horn via OR Tambo International Airport.
SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter expressed his appreciation for the focused attention by all law enforcement agencies to deal with pervasive efforts by criminal elements to smuggle the rhino horns.
He said, “It is clear that the criminals have become more brazen in smuggling, especially the rhino horn. The exemplary efforts by customs officers working with their counterparts in the Saps to stem these heinous crimes deserves commendation of all South Africans. Our message must be unambiguous to these criminal syndicates, that we will spare no effort in confronting and dealing with them. Our future generation deserves to see the national heritage of our wild animals”.
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