South Africa arrests two Vietnamese for possession of rhino horns
Two Vietnamese men have just been arrested by South African police for possessing 41 kg of rhino horn and are expected to be tried on multiple charges.
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| 41 kg of rhino horns were confiscated by South African police from two Vietnamese at Johannesburg airport. Photo: AFP |
According to Reuters, the two Vietnamese were arrested last night while transiting at the international airport in the South African capital Johannesburg. They had just left neighboring Mozambique and were on their way back to Vietnam.
The Qatar Airways flight was scheduled to take an hour to transit, but police asked passengers to leave the plane for investigation, based on a “reliable source.”
They found over 41kg of rhino horn in the bags of the two suspects, believed to have come from parks in South Africa. "This is the largest amount of rhino horn seized in a single operation in South Africa," said a statement from the country's police and customs.
The two Vietnamese men, aged 25 and 26, are currently in police custody and are scheduled to appear in court on November 3. They could be charged with transporting, possessing and trading in endangered species. Police will also investigate whether they are linked to South African accomplices in an international poaching syndicate.
Rhino numbers in Africa are declining rapidly due to poaching. Their horns are particularly sought after in Asian countries, where many believe they are a symbol of prestige and have medicinal properties.
More than 900 rhinos have been killed in South Africa so far this year, up from more than 1,000 in 2013. South Africa has an estimated 20,000 rhinos, the most in Africa.
Theo-Vnexpress
