Green Scorpions secure speedy conviction in parrot egg case
The suspect arrested at OR Tambo International Airport during August 2026 while attempting to smuggle 50 protected parrot species eggs out of the country has been convicted in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Monday, 2 November 2026.
Under a plea agreement, the accused was sentenced to a R500 000 fine or 5 years’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of 5 years subject to R300 000 being paid to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for the care of animals seized during law enforcement operations.
The arrest was the result of a joint intelligence-driven operation led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions), SAPS Crime Intelligence, SAPS Border Police, and supported by members of the SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, said: “This case is an example of what can be achieved with cooperation and coordination across law enforcement agencies. Environmental crime is organised crime, and we will only be able to take down complex criminal networks with a joint approach to enforcing environmental law.”
SANBI staff stepped in at short notice to care for the seized parrot eggs, and many were able to hatch despite the conditions they were being smuggled in. Their work which also comes at a financial cost, as does the processing of evidence in the case.
Minister Maynier said: “The support of our experts at SANBI has been vital in presenting evidence for the case. The Court’s ruling that funds must be paid to SANBI is welcomed, and the DFFE will be pursuing similar requests in other cases where wildlife is confiscated.”
An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect identified during the first interception of 418 eggs at OR Tambo Airport in July 2026. The Green Scorpions will continue the investigation into the wider trafficking network with the support of other countries and international organisations.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Kerry Mauchline (Spokesperson to the Minister)
E-mail: KMauchline@dffe.gov.za
