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Joint Hawks operations assisted by several units of the South African Police (SAPS) has resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects suspected for alleged involvement in rhino poaching, drug dealing and house breakings as well as business robberies.

A 33 year Chinese national was arrested on Saturday afternoon in Sandton, Johannesburg, by organised crime assisted Crime Intelligence and West Rand K9 after he was found in possession of a rhino horn.

It is believed the suspect was planning to sell the horn to a potential client who did not show up. Police arrested the suspect and confiscated the rhino horn which was concealed inside a bag.

Further investigations are already afoot to determine the horn’s originality through DNA analysis whilst also checking the suspect’s citizenry and domicile. The suspect is expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate Court on Monday.

In another incident, 10 Nigerian suspects were arrested at a flat in Pretoria North. During the take down operation police seized cocaine, heroin, packets of dagga, 11 stolen laptops and a stolen vehicle.

Investigators are already hard at work, profiling these suspects’ possible links to a spate of other crimes. The suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Monday to face possession of suspected stolen property and drug related charges.

Lastly, the Mpumalanga Hawks have added another suspect to the seventeen already arrested for the Witbank SBV robbery. Titus Maila (45) was arrested at his home in Bronkhorstspruit. He was immediately taken to court on Friday where his case was postponed to January 29 for bail application. 

On the 27th April 2014, it is alleged an armed group raided an SBV depot in Witbank and stole almost 40 and 50 million rand after overpowering two guards robbing them of their firearms.

The guards were kidnapped, whilst the suspects continued disabling the alarm system and cutting open one of the safes with cutting torches. The other group of suspects allegedly kidnapped two other guards who were supposed to relieve the other two the following morning. The four guards were allegedly forced to drink a tainted concoction before they were dumped alongside the Kromdraai Road in Witbank. 

In congratulating the teams for the excellent work, the acting Head of the DPCI, Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza said: “This a sign of more to come. While there is still a lot to be done, we are going to make serious inroads in our fight against crime. Congratulations to all the team members, this what South Africa wants.”

Issued by South African Police Service