Three Malawian citizens were arrested on Thursday, July 23 in Rustenburg for being in possession of a pangolin. The men, aged 32, 43 and 45 were apprehended at the Waterfall Mall and will appear in court Monday, July 27.
#sapsNW Trio, aged 32, 43 and 45 arrested on 23/07 by members of Provincial Organised Crime Unit at Waterfall Mall in Rustenburg, for possession of endangered species. Pangolin seized. The suspects will appear in court on Mon, 27/07. #EnviroCrimes ME pic.twitter.com/fEb7DIYqeU
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 26, 2020
The provincial organised crime unit followed up on information received about a pangolin that will be sold at the mall, according to TimesLive. ‘The vehicle was approached for a search. Consequently, the pangolin worth R1.4m was found inside the vehicle,’ said North West police spokesperson Lt-Col Amanda Funani.
The African Pangolin Working Group congratulated authorities for the successful interception. ‘Congratulations, superb operation executed,’ they wrote on Twitter.
Temminck’s pangolin just retrieved in an intelligence driven operation by the @SAPoliceService DPCI (HAWKS) near Rustenburg, NW Province, South Africa. Three Malawian nationals arrested. Congratulations, superb operation executed 🤝👊 pic.twitter.com/eHoQEfQdK2
— African Pangolin Working Group (@PangolinWorking) July 23, 2020
Pangolins are endangered and trafficked for its demand in the East for use in traditional medicine.
Image credit: Twitter/SAPoliceService
