Ermelo – Two suspects – 49-year-old Junior Chauke and 33-year-old Prince Ntsako Letswele – have spent several days behind bars after they were allegedly caught with rhino horn.
The pair were arrested last week on Thursday by the elite crime busters – the Hawks – who were acting on a tip-off.
Narrating events leading to the recovery of rhino horn, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said law enforcers followed information of a “vehicle with the occupants in possession of firearms which was driving towards Ermelo”.
Captain Sekgotodi added: “The police went to the direction of the road where the vehicle was coming from and spotted it.
“The suspects in the vehicle tried to flee upon seeing the police but were both arrested.”
Secunda-based Hawks officers from the serious organised crime investigation section were summoned. When they arrived, the crime scene was handed over to them for processing.
“The white Toyota Fortuner was searched in the presence of the suspects,” said Captain Sekgotodi.
“During the search, two big and two small rhino horns weighing 14,6 kilograms to the value of R876 000 were found inside the plastic bag hidden in the engine compartment.
“The rhino horns and the vehicle were confiscated for further investigation.”
The pair initially appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court a day after their arrest and their matter was postponed to 14 December 2022 for profiling and legal representation.
Both suspects were remanded in custody.
