South Africa has been losing almost two of the threatened animals a day to poachers who sell the horns in China and Southeast Asia for use by the affluent as a traditional medicine ingredient.
“There was a tip-off that we acted on speedily in fear that the suspect may try to dispose of incriminating items,” police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo told Reuters on Wednesday.
The man, who has yet to be identified, is expected to appear in court on Thursday. He was arrested on Tuesday night in a Johannesburg-area apartment and the suspected contraband was seized.
Despite evidence showing rhino horns are useless as medicine, their street price is higher than gold. – Reuters