Six members of an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate were arrested this morning, 19 August 2025 in Sunnyside, Pretoria by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit under the Wildlife Trafficking Section of Economic Protected Resources based at Headquarters.
By Jarryd Sinovich
The six suspects handed themselves over to the Hawks investigation team at Sunnyside Police Station following a complex investigation into the transnational trafficking of rhino horns. The arrests involve five men aged between 49 and 84 and one woman aged 60. The investigation, which began in 2017, focused on allegations of international rhino horn trafficking.
Investigators uncovered allegations of fraud against the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The suspects allegedly applied for permits to sell and buy rhino horns locally while in fact earmarking them for international illegal markets in Southeast Asia. The fraudulent permit scheme is linked to an estimated 964 rhino horns with a value running into millions of rands. Further investigations revealed that the DFFE was allegedly defrauded through a sophisticated scheme designed to traffic rhino horns into the global black market.
In South Africa rhino horns may be bought and sold between South African citizens provided both the buyer and seller obtain permits under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 2004. These permits are issued solely by the DFFE. However, rhino horns may not be exported or sold to non-South African citizens due to an international ban.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court today, 19 August 2025 where they face charges of fraud, theft and contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004. Additional charges of racketeering and money laundering are also possible.
