Suspected poachers arrested in Marken

Three suspected rhino poachers were arrested before they were able to shoot and dehorn rhino on a farm in Marken last Sunday afternoon.
The men: Raymond Sithole (31), Ncena Mashele (27) and Hector Maluleke (26) appeared in the Modimolle Magistrates’ Court on charges of the conspiracy to commit rhino poaching as well as the possession of an unlawful firearm and ammunition. They were denied bail.
The suspects were arrested after police followed up information about a possible attack on the animals on the farm. Police, members of a security company as well as the owner of the farm, conducted surveillance of the area for several hours and achieved their success when a vehicle was spotted offloading two suspects and them entering the farm on foot.
The suspected poachers were followed for a short distance before they were arrested. In the process the police confiscated a hunting rifle, silencer and an axe. The driver of the vehicle was arrested during a follow-up operation and the vehicle confiscated.
They will appear in the court on 11 December pending further investigation.