The Police in Limpopo through the multidisciplinary force comprising of SAPS K9 and Border Policing Units in conjunction with the Private Security companies as well as the Farm Watch in Musina, Vhembe District have arrested four male suspects for poaching on Tuesday 20 February 2024.
It is reported that in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 February, the Border Policing members received information about a poaching incident in Musina. An intelligence-driven operation was activated and subsequently, four male suspects were nabbed while carrying six pieces of ivory tusks weighing about 17 kg with an estimated street value of R650 000 as well as a dead pangolin.
The confiscated items were handed over to the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit for further investigation.
In addition, members of the Border Policing through Operation Vala Umgodi seized one ferry, believed to be utilised for smuggling illegal immigrants and counterfeit goods across Limpopo River near the Beitbridge Border post from an illegal harbour. The ferry was deposed through fire destruction.
The Police in a concerted effort jointly with the members of Military in a separate incident, arrested six undocumented foreign national male suspects aged between 18 and 39 years in the early hours of Tuesday 20 February 2024 at Driekop in Sekhukhune District. The suspects were arrested while digging chrome underground at illegal mining sites.
Mining equipment including 1 x power generator, 2 x shovels, and 7 jackhammers was confiscated.
In Vhembe District on 19 February 2024 Monday night, the police through a similar Operation arrested six male suspects aged between 18 and 39 for contravention of the immigration act. Department of Home Affairs will process the deportation of the suspects.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe hailed the collaborative efforts that yielded remarkable successes in the space of a day.
"Through this High-Density Operation Vala Umgodi in conjunction with other Stakeholders we will continue to squeeze any identified crime to zero" concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 22 February 2024.