On Tuesday 24 February 2015, four suspects were arrested at Irene Mall by a multi-disciplinary SAPS task team. After information was received regarding the suspects being in possession of rhino horn, an operation took place during which the suspects tried to sell rhino horn to the team.
They were arrested and the rhino horn, estimated at about R500 000, was found behind the back seat of their car.
Shockingly, two of the suspects were found to be police members, W/Officer Mothupi of the West Rand Dog Unit (the handler of a sniffer dog trained to detect rhino horn) and W/Officer Khumalo from Honeydew Crime Intelligence Gathering.
The suspects appeared in court today and were granted R15 000 bail.