A 48-year-old man was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, in Nelspruit, after he was found selling barn owls.

The vehicle, a Nissan bakkie, used to transport the nocturnal birds was also seized by the Hawks during the arrest on Monday.

“The suspect was arrested after he was found selling wildlife. He was found in one of the shopping complexes in Nelspruit for allegedly selling four barn owls for R1,000 each,” said Mpumalanga provincial Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.

The Hawks were alerted by the Parks Board officials, and a joint operation was conducted, where the suspect was caught red-handed with the owls, without a permit.

“The vehicle, a Nissan light delivery vehicle that was used to transport the wildlife, was seized, and the animals were handed over to Parks Board,” said Nkosi.

The arrested man is on Tuesday expected to appear before Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court, facing charges under the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, and keeping or conveyance of live game.

Meanwhile, acting Mpumalanga provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Danie Hall, has welcomed the arrest, adding that wildlife is part of South Africa’s heritage, which must be protected.

Hall has urged community members to report incidents of where wildlife is being illegally sold. 

“When we take care of our wildlife, we safeguard our heritage for future generations,” he said.

Last year, IOL reported that a 59-year-old man, Neo Tongwane, lost his Mercedes-Benz to the State after he was arrested by law enforcement agents in Northern Cape for possession and attempting to sell a pangolin.

The Hawks and the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had applied for the final forfeiture order and they succeeded, when the forfeiture order was granted by the High Court in Kimberley.

“This comes after the accused was arrested in July 2023 during an intelligence-driven operation by members of Kuruman serious organised crime investigation and Tactical Response Team (TRT). A buy and bust operation was conducted in Kuruman whereby four suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in an endangered species, the pangolin,” Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said at the time.

“The matter was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for a detailed asset forfeiture investigation. A final forfeiture order was granted for a Mercedes-Benz, with an estimated value of R150,000.”

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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