Three held for possession of protected plants worth R500 000-00 during Operation Buy and Bust

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in the Northern Cape, Major General Henriette de Waal applauded members who led to the arrest of three suspects for being in possession of protected plants. The suspects were arrested at Steinkopf in the Namakwa District.

In the first crime Intelligence led operation, members of Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit under the command of Detective Captain Karel du Toit, arrested two suspects on Sunday , 20 December 2020 for being in possession of conophytum pageae and vonophytum pellucidum plants worth R400 000-00. The two suspects aged 25 and 27 were arrested in a joint operation comprising Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit , Namakwa Crime Intelligence as well as Springbok K9. The suspects were found in possession of 2464 cocophytum pageae and 900 conophytum pellucidum plants in Springbok.

The two suspects are expected to appear before the Springbok Magistrates Court today, 22 December 2020.

In another separate joint operation comprising Springbok Stock Theft and Endanged Species Unit, Crime Intelligence and Springbok K9 members, a 35 year old man was arrested for being in possession of protected conophytum flavum plants valued at R100 000,00. The suspect was arrested in Steinkopf on Sunday, 20 December 2020.

The suspect is also expected to appear before the Springbok Magistrates Court today, 22 December 2020.

Police investigation continues.