Animal traffickers beware – South Africa’s police force is out to get you! Four animal traffickers were recently arrested in Mahikeng, caught in possession of two poached Pangolins.
Mahikeng, South Africa (02 June 2023) – Four animal traffickers were recently caught red-handed trying to sell two poached pangolins in Limpopo’s Mahikeng. In a sting operation run by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the four men were apprehended and the pangolins were removed to the safety of a wildlife veterinary hospital.
In a statement released by the SAPS, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso shared that the men were looking for a buyer and were apprehended at the Mahikeng Mall.
“Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested four suspects aged between 29 and 45 in Mahikeng on 30 May 2023, following their attempt to sell two Pangolins for R200 000-00.
The team was following up on information regarding the suspects who were allegedly looking for a buyer for the Pangolins. The quartet was cornered at Mahikeng Mall where they were found in possession of the endangered species.
They will appear before the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 1 June 2023 where they will be facing charges of contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004.
Meanwhile, the Pangolins have been taken to a Wildlife Veterinary Hospital.”
It is unclear just yet what the condition of the two pangolins was and if they survived this ordeal. We will update as soon as we get more information on them. This is just one of many successful sting operations that have taken place in the last few weeks.
The message is pretty clear: the SAPS and Hawks’ are out to catch the bad guys… so bad guys best learn to be good!
#sapsHAWKS Members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested four suspects aged between 29 and 45 in Mahikeng on 30 May 2023, following their attempt to sell two Pangolins for R200 000. MLhttps://t.co/B2GsFumaKA pic.twitter.com/TnTeXepucO
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 31, 2023
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