Hawks seize two men suspected of buying four rhino horns

The Hawks have arrested two alleged poaching “kingpins” operating out of the Kruger National Park but based in Johannesburg.

The men‚ aged 38 and 37‚ from Benoni on the East Rand‚ are charged with the illegal buying of four rhino horns.

They appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on May 30‚ just days after their arrest. Their second court appearance is scheduled for July 13.

Sanparks CEO Fundisile Nketine said they were happy about the arrests.

“We’re in a campaign to save our wildlife‚” he said. “We have a strategy and come 2019‚ we want to see the number of rhino killed annually reduced to under 400.”

Rhino horns fetch an estimated R1.5-million each on the black market.

The suspects‚ South African nationals‚ are currently out on R50,000 bail each.