Police searching a vehicle in Ficksburg on Tuesday uncovered four horns believed to be rhino horns, a zip-lock plastic bag containing fifty suspected unpolished diamonds, and a solid gold item during an early-morning crime-prevention operation.
Members of the Ficksburg Visible Policing Unit stopped a white Toyota Alphard in Einde Street, near a filling station, at about 02:15 while conducting crime-prevention operations in the policing precinct.
Search reveals parcel containing rhino horns, diamonds
During a search of the vehicle, police found a parcel wrapped in brown packaging tape in the boot.
The 39-year-old driver told officers that someone had asked him to transport the parcel from Johannesburg to Maseru.
Police opened the parcel and confirmed the contents as four horns believed to be rhino horns, fifty suspected unpolished diamonds, and one solid gold item stored in a plastic medicine container.
Officers arrested the driver, a foreign national, at the scene.
Police opened a case of possession of suspected rhino horns, unpolished diamonds, and gold at the Ficksburg Police Station.
Court appearance expected
The suspect is expected to appear in the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court soon.
