“We often talk of the need to shift law enforcement focus from the poachers on the ground to the wildlife trafficking syndicate members. This week’s arrests are applauded as an excellent example of this.”
White River, South Africa (25 July 2021) – The WWF has welcomed the news that the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and partners have arrested two high profile members of an alleged rhino horn syndicate.
The Lowvelder/Laevelder reported on Friday that Limpopo game farmer Dawie Groenewald and businessman AB Steyn appeared in court in Mbombela on a charge of illegal possession and selling of rhino horns. During the operation, police also seized 19 rhino horns and the two vehicles the men were driving.
Dr Jo Shaw, Senior Manager of the Wildlife Programme at WWF South Africa, commented: “We often talk of the need to shift law enforcement focus from the poachers on the ground to the wildlife trafficking syndicate members. This week’s arrests are applauded as an excellent example of this – brought about by targeted investigations and co-operation between the authorities and the private sector and bring opportunity for serious network disruption through incarceration and seizure of assets.”
More than a decade ago, Dawie Groenewald and several co-accused were arrested on a multitude of rhino poaching-related charges. They await their criminal trial after yet another postponement in March this year. They were first arrested on 22 September 2010 (World Rhino Day), after police discovered more than 20 rhino carcasses buried on Groenewald’s farm in Musina. Further investigations revealed the horns had been removed before the animals were buried.
The syndicate has faced a range of charges including racketeering, organised crime, money laundering, illegal hunting of rhino and dealing in rhino horn. Groenewald and his brother were also indicted on 18 counts by the US Department of Justice in October for allegedly misleading American hunters by selling illegal hunts.
The US has applied to the South African government for the brothers to be extradited to stand trial there.
by 