Rhino horn with a street value of about R500 000 and other items, amounting to a total of R2.5-million, were uncovered at a house in Robinia Street, Wychwood, last Monday.
Bones, still to be identified but suspected to belong to lions, were also found of the premises.
An intelligence driven operation by officers from the Provincial Investigation Unit and the Benoni K9 Unit led to the raid on the house.
Upon entering the premises the police found three Chinese citizens inside.
“Further investigation led to the discovery of a lab where it is believed the suspects were grinding and polishing the rhino horn into small pieces for carving,” said Capt André de Jager, spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni West cluster.
The officers also found different tools which were used in the process, a Kia bakkie which was positively identified as being stolen in Benoni and 47 rounds of live 7.65mm ammunition.
The suspects, a woman aged 48 and two men aged 30 and 40, respectively, were arrested and detained at the Primrose Police Station.
During the raid two other vehicles were also seized as police suspect these were used in the commission of a crime.
The suspects will be charged with possession of rhino horn, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of drugs and possession of wildlife products without permits.
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