Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[mposthumus]

I apologise but . . . . .

[Mel]

while the other two were apparently dressed in the SANParks uniform. ...

Another indicator that SP is getting serious on pursuing poachers for real?

[Richprins]

No need to apologise, 'Possie!

These guys know what they are in for when they enter the Park. Lately the most junior member of the poaching party carries the gun or guns...so that tells a story...

[Flutterby]

‪#‎PoachersUpdate

22/10, KNP - Marula South. During a routine security check, 7 suspects believed to be involved in rhino poaching activities in the KNP were arrested. During the operation a .458 hunting rifle, ammo and two vehicles were siezed. Follow up investigations are currently underway.

[Richprins]

What on earth is a "routine security check"?

[Flutterby]

Maybe they were stopped at a gate.

[Richprins]

Sounds like a staff village thing...

[Toko]

Two rhino poachers have been killed and six others arrested, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.
30.10.2014 04.48 pm

The six arrests, and the shooting of the two poachers happened in two separate operations, SANParks said in a statement.
“In the first operation, Crocodile Bridge rangers made contact with three suspected rhino poachers. In the ensuing pursuit, two were fatally wounded and the third managed to escape back into Mozambique.”
A hunting rifle, ammunition, and other hunting equipment were recovered from the scene.
“In the second operation, six suspects were arrested by the SANParks Environmental Crime Investigative Unit, [supported by the] SA Police Service, in a follow-up operation outside the western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP).”
A hunting rifle, ammunition, and two cars were confiscated.
The arrests followed two weeks of successful operations, resulting in 35 alleged poachers being taken into custody, bringing the total arrested in the KNP for the month of October to a record 54.
The KNP had experienced an increase in armed incursions recently, resulting in 14 contacts between armed poaching gangs and joint forces consisting of SANParks rangers, police, and the SA National Defence Force.
“The latest arrests bring the total for the year within the KNP to 144. This is the highest number of suspected poachers arrested in the KNP to date,” SANParks said.
SANParks acting chief executive Nomvuselelo Songelwa thanked those in the joint forces for the courage and tenacity they had shown in the fight to protect the Kruger’s rhino population.
“We are very proud of them and their actions,” Songelwa said.
“We are focused on winning this war at all costs and I can promise South Africans that we will leave nothing to chance in protecting our rhino in this iconic park and in our other national parks.”
- Sapa

[Richprins]

[Toko]

Two men were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday for possession of rhino horn worth an estimated R4.5 million, the SA Revenue Service said.

31.10.2014 07.10 pm

“As a result of specific, targeted profiling work, two foreign nationals travelling from Maputo to Vietnam via Johannesburg were intercepted in the international departures section of the airport for additional searches,” said spokeswoman Marika Muller.
A Sars detector dog, who was specifically trained to identify rhino horn, reacted positively to the two bags that the men were carrying.
The bags together contained 34 large pieces of horn, weighing 41 kilograms.
“This is the biggest ever seizure of rhino horn by the Sars customs team at OR Tambo International,” said Muller.
– Sapa