South Africa anti-poaching sting uncovers rhino horns
A South Africa anti-poaching operation resulted in the confiscation of 90 pounds of rhino horn, officials said Saturday. Two suspects were arrested in the South Africa anti-poaching sting.
In this photo taken Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, a white Rhino from Kube Yini Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal is captured and moved to a truck after its partner was killed by poachers near the town of Hluhluwe, South Africa. South African police say they have arrested two Vietnamese and confiscated a large number of rhinoceros horns as part of an anti-poaching operation.
Robin Clark/AP
JOHANNESBURG
South聽African police have arrested two Vietnamese and confiscated a large number of rhinoceros horns as part of an anti-poaching operation, authorities said Saturday.
The suspects were detained Friday night while in transit at Johannesburg's main international airport, police said in a statement. The men had left Mozambique and were on their way to Vietnam, and their bags contained 41 kilograms (90 pounds) of rhino horn, which would be worth a fortune on the illegal market, according to the statement.
Police believe the horns came from rhinoceros in聽South聽Africa, which is struggling to stop a surge in rhino聽poaching. The Vietnamese suspects will appear in court on Monday, and authorities said they will investigate any聽South聽African links to what they allege is an international聽poaching聽syndicate.