Syndicate busted for poaching Rhino Horn

January 17, 2009

In a joint operation by various disciplines of the South African Police Service including the Mpumalaga, Limpopo & North West Organised Crime Units, the Gauteng Provincial Task Team together with South African National Parks have arrested and charged 11 suspects in connection with the poaching of black and white Rhino.

Over the years there has been sporadic slaughtering of Rhinos in national & provincial parks and private game reserves in the Mpumulanga, Limpopo and North West Provinces. Since 2006 several Rhino were shot and their horns were hacked out, in some cases, brutally - while the animal/s were still alive.

The close working relationship between our members from the three provinces and the parks’ authority resulted in the tracking and arrest of 5 x Mozambicans (including one woman), 3 X Chinese men (two Cape Town based businessmen and a medical doctor from Bruma Lake), 2 x South Africans and 1 x person of unknown nationality. The team also recovered 2 X AK-47 rifles and 4 X .303 Rifles and R16 000 cash.

These suspects have all been charged with Illegal Hunting of Game within National Parks, Unlawful Possession and Dealing in Rhino Horn and Unlawfull Posession of Firearms. The suspects have all appeared in courts around the three provinces but soon all the cases will be consolidated and brought before a single court.

The suspects have been identified as follows:

Washington Hlongwane (Mozambican) Eric Simango (Mozambican) Joshua Baloi (Mozambican) Sarafina Baloi (Mozambican – wife) Joe Mashaba (Mozambican) Peter Blanco (Nationality not confirmed) Phineas Mundhlovu (SA) Mike Peega (SA) Jianwei Wu (CT) Z Yu (CT) Dr Wei Guan Hu (GP

The vicious tactics employed in the execution of these animals is just beyond comprehension. With the assistance of a dedicated specialized prosecutor the team is working tirelessly towards securing convictions as well as the severest punishment possible for all the suspects. It is imperative that potential poachers are reminded of the severity of poaching South Africa’s heritage so this crime does not persist.

The Rhino horns are suspected to have been sold to the eastern market between R18 000 to R25 000 a kilogram with the horns weighing between 8 – 11 kilograms.

"I would like to express my appreciation to all concerned in this complex and time-consuming investigation which has resulted in a major syndicate, responsible for the brutal slaying of endangered animals, being brought to book", said Divisional Commissioner of SAPS Detective Services, Commissioner Ray Lalla. "The police members, in close cooperation with SANPARKS, spent days and nights - even on Christmas day - tracking these suspects and have put their all into ensuring that those responsible for the killing of these beautiful creatures for blood-money were brought before the courts", Lalla added.

The Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr David Mabunda, said that rhino poaching seems to be escalating throughout the world and it is encouraging to see that the excellent cooperation between SANParks and the SAPS in South Africa has been able to achieve such good results in apprehending these callous offenders. “South Africa is one of a growing number of countries in the world where environmental crime is no longer tolerated and this intensive operation is further evidence of this”, said Dr Mabunda.

Issued by: the South African Police Service and the South African National Parks

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