Police in South Africa have arrested a Vietnamese man and seized about 60 kilos of lion claws, enamel and different objects following a four-month probe into wildlife trafficking, the federal government stated on Saturday.
The person was arrested on Thursday “in reference to the unlawful commerce in wildlife and unlawful possession of a firearm” in northern Limpopo province, the placement of numerous wildlife parks, the setting ministry stated.
Police additionally raided a Vietnamese-owned farm close to the vacationer website of Bela-Bela in Limpopo and two storage items within the capital Pretoria, a press release from the ministry stated.
They seized 4.2 kilos (9.2 kilos) of lions’ enamel, 680 grammes of lion claws and greater than 60 kilos “of processed animal merchandise believed to be lion gelatine” in addition to an unlawful firearm.
The Vietnamese suspect was arrested for “unlawful possession of a threatened species”, and appeared in court docket on Friday.
The case was postponed till August 20 with the intention to guarantee a translator might be current, the ministry stated.
The staff on the four-month investigation included members of the Inexperienced Scorpions, a particular unit accountable for imposing setting laws.
Crocodiles and lions’ claws, pores and skin or bones are illegally trafficked from Africa to the Far East, the place they’re utilized in conventional medication or for adornment.
(AFP)
