Two foreign nationals thought they had scored the lottery after stealing a rhino horn and attempted to sell it to an undercover cop.
The two suspects aged 35 and 31 who are farm workers at Lephalale allegedly stole the rhino horn from their employers display cabinet two weeks ago whilst he was on a holiday trip overseas. In an attempt to make quick bucks, they went looking for a buyer. Unfortunately their ticket to riches was in a form of an undercover cop.
The “covert” buyer requested to see the merchandise and once satisfied they agreed on a R2 000 000 payment. The suspects had their luggage ready for their trip home and unbeknown to them they were lured to a cop shop in Alldays.
The suspect’s excitement overshadowed reality that they were in the premises of a police station. Their bubble was burst when their supposedly buyer cop announced that they were under arrest early Tuesday morning.
Further investigations led the police to the employer who confirmed that the rhino horn was in fact registered under his name. He had gotten it from one of his rhinos that died in 2011. The rhino horn is being kept by the police as evidence. The two suspects will appear at the Lephalale Magistrate Court on Wednesday on charges of theft and possession of a rhino horn.
For enquiries please contact:
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
