Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Bushcraft]

Good point RT

[Richprins]

http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... by-rangers



Paroled KNP tresspasser shot dead by rangers

He was recently released and deported to the neighbouring country. He again entered the park earlier this month with the accomplices. This time, however, he was to pay with his life

23 January 2014 | Nicolene Smalman

SKUKUZA - A Mozambican man who was out on parole after serving time in prison for trespassing the Kruger National Park (KNP) with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in 2011, was killed in the park earlier this month when he returned, possibly to finish what he had started.

Mr Samito Sambo was shot and killed on January 8 shortly after midnight when he entered the park with two accomplices, most likely with the aim of poaching rhino.

He was first apprehended in Kruger on September 15, 2011. Rangers spotted the suspect in the Crocodile Bridge section late that afternoon. Sambo was detained and two firearms were recovered.

He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for trespass in the KNP, as well as the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

He was recently released and deported to the neighbouring country. He again entered the park earlier this month with the accomplices. This time, however, he was to pay with his life.

Rangers spotted the men in the Crocodile Bridge area and a shoot-out ensued. Sambo was wounded and died of his injuries. According to SANParks spokesman Mr Ike Phaala, a .375 hunting rifle and ammunition were found in his possession.

In the meantime, the scorecard looks as follows: rhino poachers 40 - rangers 11. By January 21, the poachers were obviously leading in the fight against law enforcers, but the latter are not giving up.

[Lisbeth]

Obviously Mr. Sambo only spent half of the sentenced time in prison and did not learn anything from it

I presume that the prisons in SA are over crowed like in most countries?

[Flutterby]

Two Rhino Poachers fatally shot, two others to appear in court
South African Police Service

Yesterday 5 February 2014, at approximately 18:15, at Phinda Game Reserve near Jozini, members of the Special Task Force together, Durban Organised Crime and Nyathi Anti-poaching unit arrested two suspects for rhino poaching. It is alleged that a group of unknown men entered the Phinda Game Reserve, when the members were approaching them a shoot-out ensued resulting in two suspects fatally wounded. Two other suspects aged 40 and 42 were later arrested. An unlicensed firearm, axe and knife believed to be used in poaching were found from the deceased suspects.

The recovered firearm will be sent to ballistic to ascertain if it has been used in any commission of crime in the country. Charges of illegal poaching, possession of unlicensed firearm and inquest were opened by Jozini SAPS. Two suspects will appear in the Ubombo Magistrates’ Court soon.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni congratulated the team of the successes achieved. “It is very important that we deal with these crimes by conducting such multidisciplinary operations as police alone cannot win this battle. We continue to hold such operations in future to dismantle syndicates that trade in our endangered species,” she said.

For more reading please visit:
http://guidesandrangers.blogspot.co.uk/

[Richprins]

Obviously Mr. Sambo only spent half of the sentenced time in prison and did not learn anything from it

I presume that the prisons in SA are over crowed like in most countries?

Ja, Lis! They are indeed! It was a pretty lenient sentence in the first place, IMO...in many countries if you are a criminal waltzing over the border with an illegal gun, you will be in big trouble!

[Mel]

The Hawks make nine arrests for rhino-related crimes
Date: 12th February 2014

Pretoria - The Organised Crime Unit of the Hawks in Limpopo has arrested nine suspects during a two-day operation related to environmental crimes, particularly the trade in rhino horn.

The police, who were acting on information received, arrested five suspected rhino poachers at Bela Bela yesterday afternoon, 11 February 2014, for being in possession of a rhino horn. The suspects were arrested during what was supposed to be a rhino horn transaction between the suspects and an undercover buyer.

The seized horn appears to have been poached from an adult rhino a few months ago. The five suspects are aged between 23 and 34. They are South Africans from the Mabula Village and Eersterust in Hammanskraal North, Pretoria. During the arrest, the police seized an uncut diamond, which was later tested to be a fake, and the suspects’ getaway vehicle.

They are due to appear in the Bela Bela Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 13 February 2014, on charges of the illegal possession of a rhino horn.

This arrest happened a few hours after the Hawks were summoned to a rhino poaching crime scene at the Zonderwater Farm in Lephalale where two rhinos had been shot; one dehorned and the other wounded.

Rangers at the farm accosted individuals suspiciously making their rounds at the farm at about 16:30 on Monday, 10 February 2014. The police were immediately summoned to the area. A set of rhino horns, a high-calibre hunting rifle with four rounds of ammunition, a saw and a getaway car were seized.

The suspects, 31-year-old Kenny Sibiya, 42-year-old Butini Ndlovu, 48-year-old Richard Sibuyani, both from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga and 30-year-old Sam Nnone from the Dark City Village in Lephalale, are facing charges of rhino poaching, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

They appeared in the Lephalale Magistrates’ Court today and their case has been postponed to 28 March 2014 for a formal bail application while they remain in custody.

Earlier this year, three suspected rhino poachers, 39-year-old Jaime Mashavane, 40-year-old Thomas Chauke and 32-year-old Moses Mathobo, were arrested at the Shambala Game Reserve in Vaalwater, Limpopo. A hunting rifle and an axe were seized. The suspects are still in custody.

“We remain committed and determined to confront rhino poaching from all angles. We will continue to surprise them in the thick bushes where they are operating from,” said the Head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Dibero Molatjana.

Issued by:
The South African Police Service

[Toko]

Busy week for anti-poaching units in KNP

14 APR 2014 13:32

South African National Parks (SANParks) said in a statement that the past week proved to be one of the busiest weeks for anti-poaching units in the Kruger National Park (KNP) with as many as three heavily armed groups of suspected poachers detected by rangers in the national park.
According to SANParks spokesperson, Reynold Thakhuli the week saw rangers chasing and successfully apprehending a number of armed to the teeth suspected poachers leading to the arrest of more than six suspects over the weekend.

He said these follow the arrests of two SANParks employees last week, on suspicion of poaching, bringing a total of arrests relating to suspected poaching to eight. The two SANParks men appeared in the White River Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 9 April where their case was remanded to 16 April 2014 for a formal bail application.

Thakhuli said that most of the incidents of the past week were in the southern part of the park in areas such as Crocodile Bridge, Kingfisherspruit, Tshokwane and Stolsnek.

He said on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Rangers from Crocodile Bridge apprehended a group of two suspected poachers leaving the park. The two suspects believed to be Zimbabwean nationals were arrested on the spot. A G3 military type rifle, silencer and ammunition were recovered.

On Friday, 11 February 2014, Rangers from the Kingfisherspruit area apprehended a group of two suspected rhino poachers, leading to the arrest of one of the armed suspects. A .458 rifle, silencer, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered. The second suspect managed to escape arrest.

Tshokwane Rangers apprehended two suspected rhino poachers on Saturday, 12 April 2014. One suspect was arrested and a .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered. The second suspect managed to escape back to Mozambique.

Sunday, 13 April 2014 was a very busy day for Stolsnek Rangers when they apprehended a group of five suspected rhino poachers. Two of the suspects were arrested with the help of SANParks Airwing and canine units. The hunt is still on for the remaining three suspects who managed to escape.

Thakhuli said the proactive actions of everyone involved had finally paid off and that the possibility of more arrests will not be ruled out as follow up investigations are underway. "This is a clear indication that resilience and patience pays off and we are grateful that no lives were lost during an encounter with these heavily armed suspected poachers."

He said the anti-poaching units are ready for this coming long weekend with many deployments routes being plotted out, particularly in hot spots. "We are not resting this coming weekend as we believe there are quite few poaching incidents being planned by poachers. We will be ready and waiting for them and we would like to request the support and cooperation of all members of society in identifying and reporting suspicious behavior that could lead to the apprehension and conviction of these criminals."

[Richprins]

Sounds very good! The use of silencers on the guns is interesting, shows the poachers are well-equipped...

If there is such a thing as a silencer for a .458, it would cost up to US$900...but google is difficult!

[H. erectus]

How busy can one get??? Geez, "the army seems to be braking their back for us",...

What a load of hogwash, a futile attempt at softsoaping!!!

[Toko]

Suspected rhino poachers shot dead

May 5 2014 at 05:36pm
By Richard Compton

zemvelo KZN Wildlife anti-poaching unit staff (APU's) shot and killed two poachers last weekend at KZN's premier game reserve Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP). This was one of three poaching incursions confronted over the past four days.

The poachers had shot and killed a White Rhino at Manzimnyama (near Memorial Gate) but Ezemvelo's field staff had heard the shots and confronted them. The one poacher was killed instantly while the second was wounded and later died.

An axe, a .375 rifle and two white rhino horns were found in their possession.

Cedric Coetzee, Ezemvelo's Rhino Security Manager, said while the level of poaching was “undoubtedly” escalating with three rhino carcasses having been found over the past week (Tembe Elephant Park, a private game ranch and HiP), Ezemvelo's new joint operations with the SAPS was proving “highly effective”.

“I have absolutely no doubt that since the amounts being paid to these poachers has increased, so the number of incursions has escalated. But in collaboration with the SAPS, we are meeting them head on. We will not be standing back; not for one moment. Our intelligence is improving all the time.”

Based on this improved intelligence, Ezemvelo set up a number of ambushes at Ozabeni (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) last Friday where Field Rangers confronted a poaching suspect. While the poacher escaped, Ezemvelo was able to seize a .375 bolt action rifle along with ammunition and a silencer.

A similar incident occurred at Tembe Elephant Park on Sunday where two poachers were intercepted by the SAPS. They, too, escaped but a .375 rifle with silencer was recovered.

Over the past month the Joint Operations Command has undertaken eleven further Cordon and Search operations. These resulted in three arrests, the recovery of two firearms, large amounts of ammunition and the seizure of huge amounts of wildlife contraband (animal skins, horns and the like).

“What's important is the accuracy of our intelligence. We are increasingly identifying the syndicates associated with rhino poaching. We are on to them - and they should know that,” said Coetzee.

The total number of rhino poached in KZN this year has risen to 33 (29 White Rhino and four Black). 28 arrests have been made and 20 firearms have been recovered.

* Richard Compton is based in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal