A man was arrested with endangered plants worth R1.6 million. Picture: SAPS
A MAN was arrested in the Northern Cape for dealing in endangered plants worth R1.6 million.
The suspect was arrested on Thursday while he was travelling in a bus from Springbok to Cape Town.
"Springbok Highway Patrol received information about an alleged succulent poacher, operationalised it and arrested one male with Conophytums worth about R1.6 million," Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said.
He explained that the police in Garies responded swiftly to the information received and the bus was intercepted, stopped and searched in Garies. The man was found with the poached Conophytum plants.
"The adult male suspect was arrested and will be appearing in the Springbok Magistrate's Court soon on charges of dealing in endangered plants," Kock said.
Conophytum is a type of dwarf succulent, many of which are currently endangered due to poaching. The illegal trade in these plants is increasing at an alarming rate.