Latest news with #Christopher Singo
News24
5 hours ago
- News24
Six arrested for allegedly trafficking over 900 rhino horns with fraudulent permits
Six people appeared in court for the alleged transnational trafficking of 964 rhino horns. They are accused of fraudulently obtaining domestic trade permits and funnelling rhino horns into illegal international markets. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George said the arrests were critical in protecting biodiversity. Six people were set to appear at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, accused of the transnational trafficking of 964 rhino horns, following a successful investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), which began in 2017. According to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Singo, the six accused – five men between 49 and 84, and a woman aged 60 – handed themselves over to the Hawks investigating team at Sunnyside police station on Tuesday morning. In a statement, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) said the seven-year investigation had included the Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the department's enforcement unit (the Green Scorpions), and the National Prosecuting Authority. And the suspects face charges of fraud, theft, and contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), with additional charges of racketeering and money laundering under consideration. According to the DFFE, investigations revealed that the accused had allegedly defrauded the department by securing permits under false pretences 'to buy and sell rhino horns domestically, while funnelling them' into 'illegal markets in Southeast Asia'. It said that under South African law, domestic trade was permitted with valid DFFE-issued permits in terms of the NEMBA. The department added: International commercial trade in rhino horn is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Minister Dion George said the arrests were 'a decisive victory in South Africa's fight against international wildlife crime'. 'Let there be no doubt: South Africa will bring the full force of its laws against those who plunder our wildlife. This arrest proves that syndicates cannot escape justice, no matter how complex their schemes.' He added that the work to apprehend the six showed that the enforcement agencies would 'not hesitate to pursue those who plunder our wildlife for criminal profit'. 'The illegal trade in rhino horn not only destroys biodiversity but also undermines the rule of law and the foundations of environmental governance,' George said.
The Herald
5 hours ago
- The Herald
Rhino horn trafficking suspects arrested
Six alleged members of an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate were arrested in Sunnyside, Pretoria, on Tuesday. The arrests follow an investigation started in 2017 by the wildlife trafficking section of economic protected resources in the serious organised crime investigation unit of the Hawks. The five men are aged between 49 and 84 and the woman is 60 years old. Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Christopher Singo said: 'Investigations discovered an allegation of fraud against the department of forestry, fisheries and environment (DFFE) where the suspects allegedly applied for permits to sell and buy rhino horn locally, but were earmarked for international illegal markets in south east Asia. 'The identified fraudulent permits scheme account for an estimated 964 rhino horns. 'Further investigation revealed the DFFE was allegedly defrauded by a well-designed scheme by the suspects to traffic rhino horns and participate in the international illegal rhino horn markets.' He said rhino horns can be bought and sold to South African citizens after the seller and buyer successfully apply for permits in terms of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act. 'The DFFE is the only one who can authorise the issuing of the permits,' Singo said. 'Rhino horns may not be exported or sold to non-South African citizens due to an international ban.' The suspects face charges of fraud, theft and contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act and possible racketeering and money laundering charges. TimesLIVE
