Donkey skins valued at over R2m found in 'smelly' Gauteng warehouse

Gauteng police have discovered hundreds of donkey skins in a major bust on Johannesburg's West Rand after an intelligence-led operation between the Stock Theft and national Crime Intelligence units.

The police said the donkey skins discovered on a smallholding in the Brandvlei area near Randfontein were valued at around R2.25 million.

"The police received a tip off about a smelly warehouse at portion 26 Brandvlei‚ both units acted upon the given information which led them to the discovery of a large number of animal skins stuffed in a store room‚" said police spokesperson Constable Lucky Matome.

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"During preliminary investigation it was established that the store room was leased to a foreign national who was not found at the premises.

"It is alleged that the donkeys could have been illegally slaughtered for their skins‚" he said.

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Matome said police were investigating two cases under different stock theft laws.

In January The Times reported about two big busts regarding the slaughtering of donkeys for their skins.

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Ashley Ness‚ an inspector at the Highveld Horse Care Unit‚ and her team were instrumental in a bust on January 16 which saw nearly 3‚500 donkeys skins‚ believed to be destined for China‚ recovered in a warehouse in Benoni on Johannesburg's East Rand.

Shortly after‚ the NSPCA were responsible for a bust in Olifantshoek in the Northern Cape where nearly 500 donkey carcasses were found in a field.

- TMG Digital/Times LIVE