Two Chinese nationals are in custody pending further investigation and a court appearance for the illegal possession of a rhino horn.
This after the 30- and 32-year-old suspects were arrested in a joint South African Police Services and Department of Home Affairs immigration services roadblock on the N3 Freeway at midday on 9 November. In total 95 vehicles and 121 people were searched in the exercise said to be part of the police’s festive season blitz on crime.
Alex Police Station spokesperson Captain Allie Kodisang said when searching the two’s white Subaru, the police found the horn, with a value still to be determined, in a cosmetics bag in the boot of the car, and R6 000 in cash from both of them. Kodisang said one of the suspects claimed to have bought the horn from someone in Rustenburg and was going to deliver it to a customer.
The other claimed to be the driver expecting a payment for his transport service. They claimed to be coming from the Bruma Lake area. One of them had a valid passport and the other failed to produce any documentation.
They were detained at Norwood Police Station pending further investigation by the police’s organised crime unit.
The blitz also nabbed undocumented persons and issued traffic offence tickets to the value of R9 100.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 321 7600.
Also read: Four reasons to save the amazing rhino
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