Two men have been arrested for trading in lions in the North West.
Nico Scoltz, 32, and Huu Tao Nguyen, 53, made their first appearance before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Monday. They are facing charges of violating the Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 of the National Environmental Management. They are also charged with conspiracy to conduct an offence, and possession of an illegal handgun and ammunition.
According to the Hawks, reports concerning an Asian male who is unlawfully selling lions were received on July 3.
Undercover operation
The allegations were tested, and an undercover operation was carried out on Friday. The suspect was purportedly offered to sell the customer six lions.
“Reports indicated that the suspect introduced the buyer to a white male who drove with them to a farm where the lions were kept,” said Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula.
Mathebula said, soon after the buyer gave the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation deposit money, members of the team, working with Crime Intelligence, the Illegal Mining Task Team, and the Potchefstroom Local Criminal Record Centre, pounced on the suspects upon their return to Potchefstroom.
“The team conducted a search and reportedly found a rifle and fifty (50) live rounds of ammunition in the suspects’ vehicle. A Toyota Fortuner and a trailer were seized for further investigation.
“The accused have been remanded in custody, and their matter was postponed to 16 July 2024 for formal application.”
Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi, acting Hawks Head for North West, has praised the team’s efforts and welcomed the capture.
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