The arrest by the Hawks was part of a multi-dimensional and intelligence-led operation in four provinces. The suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in a number of rhino poaching and related crimes.
The alleged ringleader was arrested in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Friday, 19 September while appearing on a separate rhino-poaching related case. The other suspects were arrested simultaneously in Polokwane in Limpopo, Ficksburg in the Free State, Potchefstroom in the North West and in Montana, Mamelodi and Kameeldrift in Gauteng. The syndicate mainly operated in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The group is alleged to have contributed to the slaughter and mutilation of 24 rhinos in state and privately owned game reserves. Only two of the 24 rhinos that had been attacked, survived, but they were dehorned after they had been darted. The 34 horns were either stolen or obtained through other means.
The killings took place between 2008 and 2012. In total, the syndicate illegally obtained 84 rhino horns and killed 22 rhinos valued at nearly R22m.
The ten appeared in the Hatfield Court in Pretoria on Monday, 22 September 2014 on several rhino poaching-related charges like theft, fraud, malicious injury to property, attempting to defeat the ends of justice, racketeering, money laundering, intimidation, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
The arrests on Friday bring to 342 the number of people arrested in connection with rhino poaching in South Africa since the start of 2014.
