Four arrested in Kuruman after R250k pangolin sting

FOUR suspects have been arrested after allegedly trying to sell a live pangolin for R250,000 during an undercover sting operation in Kuruman.

Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said that, acting on a tip-off, a specialised team of Hawks officers, police units from Kuruman and Upington, and forensic experts swooped on the suspects at the Oasis Casino on June 5. The group had reportedly arranged to meet a potential “buyer” to finalise the illegal transaction.

When the suspects arrived in a white VW Golf, they were found with a live adult female pangolin – one of the most heavily trafficked and endangered mammals in the world. As soon as the deal was sealed, officers moved in and arrested all four on the spot.

The suspects, identified as Refilwe Ejang, 36, Bafenyi Baganeng, 25, Rapelang Namusi, 32, and Pogisho Motlhabane, have been charged with contravening the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.

They appeared briefly in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on June 6 and are expected to apply for bail on June 11.

The pangolin was safely recovered and is being cared for by environmental authorities.