A 40-year-old suspect was apprehended for rhino horn smuggling at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport as he was about to board a Qatar Airways flight to Malaysia this week.
“Authorities discovered suspicious objects in his luggage at a check-in point,” said Hawks spokesperson Capt Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
Police officers discovered five rhino horns wrapped in foil and concealed in sweets and green tea boxes.
The passenger’s second item of luggage was searched on the aeroplane and another six rhino horns were found.
“The suspect was immediately arrested and charged. Investigations continue and more charges cannot be ruled out.”
TimesLIVE
Passenger with 11 rhino horns nabbed en route to Malaysia
Image: Hawks
A 40-year-old suspect was apprehended for rhino horn smuggling at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport as he was about to board a Qatar Airways flight to Malaysia this week.
“Authorities discovered suspicious objects in his luggage at a check-in point,” said Hawks spokesperson Capt Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
Police officers discovered five rhino horns wrapped in foil and concealed in sweets and green tea boxes.
The passenger’s second item of luggage was searched on the aeroplane and another six rhino horns were found.
“The suspect was immediately arrested and charged. Investigations continue and more charges cannot be ruled out.”
TimesLIVE
READ MORE:
Horn consumers reveal why a legal trade alone won’t save rhinos
Rhino horn disguised as chocolates grounded at OR Tambo airport
About 24 rhino carcasses found in SA game reserves in past two weeks
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