Five suspected illegal hunters arrested in Phalaborwa region
Phalaborwa – The fight against illegal hunting continue to yield positive results after five (5) suspected illegal hunters were arrested yesterday.
During the late hours of yesterday, 20 January 2018 at about 23:00 the police in Giyani Cluster acted on a tip-off about suspects enroute to commit illegal hunting.
A Tactical Led-Joint Operation composed of various police units including Provincial Tracking Team, Crime Intelligence Unit, Tactical Response Team, and Rhino 8 Team from Phalaborwa was conducted at Samey garage Mica between Hoedspruit R40 and Phalaborwa.
During the operation, Five (5) suspects aged between 30 and 36 were nabbed in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve (North of Skukuza) within the Kruger National Park in Phalaborwa policing area.
The operation was in the form of Road block and Stop and Search where a suspicious vehicle was pulled off the road. The following were recovered during the search:
• Golden Ford Figo with Mpumalanga registration number;
• 375 hunting rifle with serial number filed off;
• Ammunition and
• 9mm Norinco pistol with serial number filed off.
The arrested suspects will appear before Phalaborwa Magistrate’s Court soon facing charges of possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and conspiracy to commit illegal hunting of protected species. The suspects are still being profiled with the possibility of linking them to similar charges and other crimes.
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