Police in Limpopo have arrested four illegal foreigners for poaching and seized six ivory tusks worth R650k.
The operation was conducted on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, and led by a multidisciplinary force including SAPS K9 and Border Policing Units, alongside Private Security companies and Farm Watch in Musina, Vhembe District.
The Border Policing members acted swiftly upon receiving intelligence regarding a poaching incident in Musina, resulting in the successful capture of the perpetrators. The four male suspects were found in possession of six pieces of ivory tusks weighing approximately 17 kg, valued at R650,000, along with a deceased pangolin. The confiscated items have been handed over to the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit for further investigation.
As part of the operation, members of the Border Policing unit, under Operation Vala Umgodi, intercepted and seized a ferry suspected of being used for smuggling illegal immigrants and counterfeit goods across the Limpopo River near the Beitbridge Border post. The confiscated ferry was disposed of through fire destruction.
In a separate incident, members of the Police, in collaboration with the Military, arrested six undocumented foreign national male suspects aged between 18 and 39 years in Driekop, Sekhukhune District. The suspects were apprehended while engaging in illegal chrome mining, and mining equipment including 1 x power generator, 2 x shovels, and 7 jackhammers were confiscated. Additionally, in Vhembe District, on the preceding night, six male suspects aged between 18 and 39 were arrested for contravention of immigration laws. The Department of Home Affairs will oversee the deportation process for these individuals.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the successful outcomes of the operations within a short timeframe. She emphasized the commitment to continue such high-density operations, aiming to minimize identified crimes effectively. The arrested suspects are scheduled to appear before various Magistrate’s Courts on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
