Two arrested after police find rhino horns, rifles and ammo in Mpumalanga vehicle stop

Mpumalanga police have arrested two men after officers found rhino horns, rifles and ammunition during a vehicle search on the N12 between Ogies and Kendal. The stop, carried out by Middelburg Flying Squad members, led to the seizure and criminal charges against the two suspects.

What happened during the stop

Police said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 22 July, at about 11:45pm when officers on patrol spotted a silver Toyota Etios with Mpumalanga registration plates and stopped the vehicle. During a search of the car and its occupants, officers discovered two rhino horns, two hunting rifles and ammunition inside the vehicle.

Charges and next steps

Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane said police found a black jacket in the vehicle that was covering two rhino horns and two hunting rifles. They face charges of possession of rhino horns and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and are expected to appear in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court soon.

Broader enforcement context

The seizure and arrests sit alongside other high-profile legal actions related to rhino horn trafficking reported by the media. According to IOL, last month a decade-long legal battle involving a prominent rhino horn trafficking case ended after the trafficking mastermind Dawie Groenewald entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the State in the Polokwane High Court in Limpopo. That case, the report said, involved charges linked to racketeering, wildlife crime and money laundering dating back to 2008.

What authorities recovered

• Two rhino horns found inside the vehicle.
• Two hunting rifles discovered under a jacket in the car.
• Ammunition recovered during the search.

The police have not released further details about the suspects or provided a scheduled court date beyond saying they will appear at Witbank Magistrate’s Court soon.

Investigation and prosecution

Authorities charged the two men with possession of rhino horns and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The matter will proceed through the magistrate’s court as the police investigation continues.