Five police among rhino poaching kingpins
More arrests are still to be made as the operation continues.
A seventh suspect on rhino poaching and trafficking was arrested this morning.
Constable Rachel Qwebana (33) of Acornhoek stock theft unit handed herself to the arresting team of law enforcers led by the Hawks Mpumalanga who are continuing with their operation at Hazyview.
“She will appear in Hazyview Magistrate’s Court this morning,”says Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesperson of the Hawks in the province. She adds that more arrests are still to be made as the operation continues.
Also read:Hawks arrest six rhino poaching syndicate kingpins
On Wednesday the team arrested six suspects in connection with rhino poaching and trafficking. They include three police officers, a former police officer and two kin pins. These are Mr Petros Sydney Mabuza (53), Mr Claude Lubisi (33) a former police constable at Calcutta police station, Mr Clyde Mnisi (33), Mr Phineas Lubisi (40) a former station commander of Skukuza police station,Mr Joseph Nyalunga known as Big Joe (33) who is a former police Warrant Officer of White River Police Station and Ms Aretha Mhlanga (40) a police constable at Skukuza police station.
They all appeared before the White River Magistrate’s Court on September 19.
They were remanded in custody. The case is postponed for their formal bail application to September 27.
A number of the suspects’ properties including household furniture, hippopotamus meat, trucks, gardening and building equipment were confiscated by SARS and the police following a court liquidation order. Some of the suspects business properties were also attached.
