Pangolin traffickers to appear in court

Four suspects will before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 14 July 2023, for possession of endangered species after being caught with the carcasses of two pangolins.

SUSPECTS ALLEGEDLY TRAFFICKING PANGOLINS AGED BETWEEN 26 AND 46

The Brits Trio Task Team members acted on information received about four men who were seen selling two dead pangolins. The police reacted swiftly and the four suspects in possession of pangolins were cornered in the vicinity of Wagpos in Brits.

The animals were found inside plastic bags and the suspects were all arrested. Morewell Mpofu (34), Simon Gwenzi (26), Phineas Mchuma (46) and Taurai Zhou (35) were all charged with possession of endangered species which is in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, (NEMBA).

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POLICE CARRY OUT MORE ARREST OF TRAFFICKERS

Earlier this week a man in Kuruman was arrested after police discovered two pangolins in his home. While, in May four men were arrested in the North West for being in possession of two of the endangered specie. The animals were to be sold for R200 000.

The suspects – aged between 29 and 45 – were nabbed at Mahikeng Mall when they were found in possession of the endangered species.

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