The vigilance of a Springbok SAPS K9 team led to the arrest of three suspects found in possession of rhino horns and protected plants in the Northern Cape town.
The police received information about an unknown vehicle transporting rhino horns on the R355 road between Springbok and Gamoep.
Search all vehicles
The intelligence was operationalised and a vehicle checkpoint (VCP) was set up on the said road to stop and search all vehicles.
The police K9 protected species dog, Ozzy, positively responded to luggage in one of the vehicles that was stopped and searched.
The team found protected plants with an estimated value of R45 400 and rhino horns valued at approximately R449 000 and arrested a female and two male suspects aged 23, 47 and 56 respectively.
The trio appeared in the Springbok Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 12 November.
The Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, thanked the community for being the eyes and ears of the police, by reporting criminality, enabling the police to act swiftly.
He reiterated that the SAPS, with the assistance of stakeholders, will squeeze the space for criminals to operate.
What is an adequate punishment for rhino poachers?
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