SARS Prevents the Smuggling of Rhino horn out of the Country

An attempt to smuggle rhino horn out of the country was successfully foiled by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs Unit, which worked with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The operation was launched after SARS received information about suspicious luggage en route to Abu-Dhabi, according to SARS.

“The Customs team responded by dispatching officers to the baggage area where the luggage was scanned, revealing images,” SARS said in a statement. Two plastic-wrapped pieces of luggage were taken to the Customs search area, where they were rescanned and searched.”

During the search, 17 pieces of rhino horn weighing 25kg were discovered. The passenger was taken to the International Police Station by the SAPS. The goods were turned over to the SAPS to be investigated further.

The revenue collector stated that attempts to smuggle rhino horn through OR Tambo International Airport had increased.

Using profiling and information sharing networks, seven rhino horn detections totaling 137 pieces and weighing 482kg were discovered between July 2020 and April 2022.

Other detections were:

• April 2022: 12 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 30.7kg
• December 2021: six pieces of rhino horn, weighing 4kg declared as ‘Personal Effects.
• December 2021: five pieces of rhino horn, weighing 10kg declared as ‘Scanners’.
• July 2021:  32 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 160kg declared as ‘Live Plants.
• February 2021: 18 pieces of rhino horn, weighing 63kg declared as ‘HP Cartridges Developers.
• December 2020: 17 pieces of rhino horn weighing 72.4kg concealed in a geyser.
• September 2020: six pieces, weighing 4.9kg declared as “Coffee Beans”.
• July 2020: 41 pieces, weighing 137kg declared as “Fine Arts”.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the law enforcement agencies for focusing their efforts on the widespread attempts by criminal elements to smuggle rhino horns.

“It is clear that the criminals have become more brazen in smuggling especially the rhino horn. The exemplary efforts by Customs officers working with their counterparts in the South African Police Service to stem these heinous crimes deserves commendation of all South Africans.

“Our message must be unambiguous to these criminal syndicates, that we will spare no effort in confronting and dealing with them. Our future generation deserves to see the national heritage of our wild animals,” he said.

He went on to say that the country must not only safeguard endangered animals, but also ensure that “those set on this way of life are arrested, convicted, and sentenced to severe prison terms.” This is planned and systemic economic sabotage.”