South African Authorities Arrest Two Nigerians for Trafficking Rhino Horns, Big Cat Body Parts
South African Authorities Arrest Two Nigerians for Trafficking Rhino Horns, Big Cat Body Parts
South African Authorities Arrest Two Nigerians for Trafficking Rhino Horns, Big Cat Body Parts
South African authorities have arrested two Nigerian nationals in a major wildlife trafficking bust involving 17 rhino horns and over 26 kilograms of tiger and lion parts.
The suspects, aged 34 and 35, were apprehended through a coordinated operation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) wildlife trafficking unit, with support from the Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs unit, Tracker Connect, the Gauteng SAPS Tactical Response Team, and the SAPS Airwing.
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The breakthrough came after a suspicious consignment originally bound for Singapore was returned to South Africa. Investigators traced it to a storage facility in Kempton Park, Gauteng, where a search led to the recovery of 17 rhino horns weighing 55.4 kilograms, along with 26.2 kilograms of lion and tiger bones, skulls, and claws.
Officials say the monetary value of the seized items will be determined after forensic and scientific analysis. However, authorities have already described the operation as a significant blow to a major wildlife trafficking network supplying illegal markets in Southeast Asia.
The suspects were arraigned before the Kempton Park Magistrate Court on December 3, 2025. They face multiple charges under Section 57(1) of South Africa’s National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004), which prohibits the possession, transport, or trade of listed threatened or protected species.
BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato praised the collaboration among agencies, noting that the arrest underscores South Africa’s firm stance against wildlife crimes.
“This crime not only threatens our natural heritage but also fuels organized criminal networks,” he said.
Investigators confirmed that the case remains open, with more arrests likely as authorities continue to follow new leads and work with both local and international partners to dismantle the syndicate behind the shipment.
South African Authorities Arrest Two Nigerians for Trafficking Rhino Horns, Big Cat Body Parts
