Private security officers saw suspicious items when scanning the Zimbabwean woman’s luggage.
Source: Woman nabbed at OR Tambo smuggling rhino horns
The Zimbabwean national is expected to appear in court soon.
Modise said the confiscated rhino horn would be subjected to genetic profiling by the forensic science laboratory of the South African Police Service (SAPS), to determine the origin of the rhinoceros horn and possible links with other investigations.
Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa congratulated members of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (known as the Green Scorpions) for their assistance in the arrest.
“The successes we are recording in terms of the integrated strategic management approach can be attributed to the excellent cooperation with, and collaboration between, the Green Scorpions, SARS [the SA Revenue Services], SAPS and other government agencies as they strive to combat the illegal import and export of wildlife products,” said Molewa.
Modise said that in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA, as well as the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a permit was required to possess or transport rhino horn.
Non-compliance with the NEMBA permit requirement was a criminal offence for which a person could be fined as much as R10-million, or a fine equal to three times the commercial value of the commercial value of the horn seized, whichever was greater. The person could also be jailed for as long as 10 years.
COMMENTS