Hawks arrest 8 people for possession of lion bones and meat

The Hawks have arrested eight people in the North West for the illegal possession of lion bones, lion meat and tiger’s skin.

Hawks spokesperson captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspects are between 22 and 60 years old.

“The team intercepted two vehicles at the intersection of N12 and Dominionville driving in a convoy headed to an unused farm in Mareetsane” on Sunday, Rikhotso said.

They searched the cars and also found gas cylinders, gas burners, a saw, knives and other equipment believed to be used in processing lion bones.

“The suspects took the Hawks team to another farm, approximately 30km from Klerksdorp, where the lions were allegedly slaughtered. At the farm, a lion skin was found dumped in the bush and large machines which are believed to have been the instruments for cutting the bones were found in the garage.”

The suspects include two South Africans and six foreigners. They are expected to make their first court appearance on Tuesday in the Klerksdorp magistrate’s court on charges of illegal possession of game products and and other charges.