Man in possession of lion bones arrested at OR Tambo

A man was arrested for being in possession of lion bones at OR Tambo International Airport on June 23.

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According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Bonnie Nxumalo, Bidvest airport law enforcement found suspicious material in the suspect’s suitcase and the man was detained.

The Germiston-based Hawks’ Economic Protected Resources members were alerted.

“The luggage was opened and the bones were recovered. The suspect was about to board a flight to Vietnam via Qatar. The police also seized two passports, foreign money, and a cellphone from the suspect.”

It is believed that the bones originated from five different lion carcasses.

“The suspect will face charges for possessing lion bones, illegal wildlife trade and breaking the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act,” said Nxumalo.

Nxumalo added that further arrests have not been ruled out and the suspect appeared in court in Kempton Park.

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At the time of going to print the outcome of the man’s June 26 court appearance was not known.

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