Three male suspects aged 27, 34 and 42 were arrested by the North West Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit (SOCIU) on Friday, 9 June 2023, for alleged possession of a pangolin.
It is alleged that the members received information about suspects who were planning to sell a pangolin for R200 000-00 at a mall in Mafikeng.
An entrapment was set up, and the team pounced on the suspects and found them in possession of a pangolin.
They were arrested and charged with wildlife trafficking and contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity, 2004 (Act 10 of 2004).
The vehicle and three cellphones were seized for further investigation.
The trio will appear in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 June 2023.
