Breaking! South African Customs Seize More Than USD $3.5 Million Worth Of Rhino Horn Headed To Malaysia

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs Unit seized a shipment of rhino horn that was destined for Malaysia. The estimated value of the recovered horn is R 53 172 000, which is worth more than $3.5 million U.S. dollars.

The Customs Detector Dog Unit at O.R. Tambo International Airport found a suspicious shipment that was declared as ‘HP Cartridges Developers.’ The three-piece shipment was taken to a X-ray scanner for inspection, where the image analysis reflected objects resembling the shape of rhino horns. The shipment was then taken for physical inspection and that’s when 18 pieces of rhino horn weighing 63kg were found concealed in clothing.

This is the fourth rhino horn bust by SARS Customs at the O.R. Tambo International Airport between July of 2020 to February of 2021. The overall weight of the rhino horn seized in these four cases was 277.30kg with an estimated value of R 234 114 206, which is worth more than $15.7 million U.S. dollars.

When the rhino horns were discovered, Customs officers immediately called Hawks, the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation, who confiscated the shipment for further investigation.

Commissioner Edward Kieswetter congratulated the Customs officers on their excellent work and warned the perpetrators of this crime that SARS, together with other law enforcement agencies, would spare no efforts in confronting and dealing decisively with any criminal malfeasance. Those that are involved in such egregious and merciless killing and mutilation of rhinoceros will be brought to justice.

“Those that are determined to destroy the rich natural endowment of our country, which is a common treasure and heritage for all, which we should look after for future generations, will be met with unwavering commitment of our officers to enforce the law,” Kieswetter said in a statement.

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