The suspects were arrested in a sting operation 'while in the process of looking for a buyer for a poached pangolin'.
Cory the pangolin. Pangolins haven’t resided in Zululand for almost 70 years. Picture: Casey Pratt/Love Africa Marketing
Five men and one woman have been arrested for dealing in pangolins following a sting operation in the Midrand area on Thursday, police said on Saturday.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the six – aged between 28 and 42 – are expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
They were arrested in a sting operation “while in the process of looking for a buyer for a poached pangolin”.
“The group, which has been charged for contravening the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, was pounced upon on Thursday at a lodge in Midrand, in an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Hawks’ wildlife-trafficking team together with Crime Intelligence and Benoni K9.”
Mulamu said a pangolin was found alive at the scene.
“The scaly protected species… was still alive [and] found hidden in a cardboard box. All six suspects were immediately arrested and charged.”
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