Two German nationals – Daniel Lohde and Marko Drescher – have entered a plea agreement admitting to the possession of CITES-listed endangered species and illegal trade.
The pair were first arrested in November 2021 for the illegal trade and possession of reptiles and controlled substances.
On Thursday, Lohde and Drescher were rearrested on similar charges as they walked out of court in Upington.
They both entered a plea agreement admitting to the possession of and illegal trade in CITES-listed species.
The men were first arrested last year near Askam in the Northern Cape following a multi-agency reptile undercover operation.
They were nabbed while catching reptiles, including Armadillo Girdled lizards – a threatened and protected species, giant ground geckos, several other lizards, and four tortoises in the Northern Cape with the intention to smuggle them out of South Africa.
All tortoises are listed by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which regulates the international trade in these species.
In terms of the plea agreement, both men were convicted on all four counts.
Lohde was sentenced to a total of 11 years imprisonment or a fine of R175 000, wholly suspended for five years and Drescher was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of R175 000, wholly suspended for five years.
The sentences were suspended on the condition that neither be convicted of contravening the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act as well as certain sections of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act within a five-year period.
Lohde has also been ordered to pay R350 000 and Drescher R100 000 to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Both men were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
As a result of ongoing investigations, both men have been rearrested on similar charges linked to a case in Gauteng.
The accused are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon.
RE-ARRESTED: Two German nationals, Marko Drescher and Daniel Lohde were re-arrested Thursday after they appeared before the Upington Magistrate court. The pair who were first arrested near Askam in the Northern Cape face charges related to the illegal trade and possession of reptiles and controlled substances
