Major rhino arrests

TWO major rhino poacher arrests in one week have left Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) officials elated.

In what was called ‘the single biggest anti-rhino poaching success to date’, four suspects were arrested inside the Bhekabantu District outside Tembe Elephant Park on Tuesday

Jubilant Tembe section ranger Len Gunter said Ezemvelo, SAPS and Nyathi Anti-Poaching had been working on a particular criminal syndicate for some time, following informer tip-offs.

On Tuesday mid-afternoon they invaded a home and confronted the four suspects.

On finding an unlicensed firearm (375 calibre bolt-action rifle), ammunition, silencer and an axe the suspects were arrested and taken to the nearby Manguzi police station.

Gunter said one of the suspects was a Mozambican national while the three others were South African.

‘They were caught completely unawares.

‘We are thrilled with the level of intelligence we are now receiving and make no mistake this is a major success for us.

‘If we can keep this up we are hopeful that we will start to seriously disrupt a number of these poaching gangs.

‘We are now trying to link the rifle with an earlier poaching incident,’ said Gunter.

The arrests followed that of another suspect on Monday inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, where it was further reported that two accomplices managed to escape.

‘Ezemvelo can today announce that one of the two suspects who managed to escape on Monday has been arrested,’ said EKZN spokesman Musa Mntambo.

‘Following exceptional detective work by Ezemvelo Anti Poaching Unit investigators, one of the suspects has been arrested and a .375 gun, suspected to have been used during the Monday shootout with rangers was recovered.

‘Ezemvelo is following leads and the arrest of the third suspect arrest is imminent.’