Vietnamese man held with rhino horns
April 24th, 2012 - 4:29 am ICT by IANSJohannesburg, April 24 (IANS) A 25-year-old Vietnamese man was arrested here when he was trying to leave the country with three rhino horns, authorities said Monday.
The customs officers at the OR Tambo International Airport found the horns Sunday when they were searching his bags, the SA Revenue Service (SARS) said.
The horns weighed about 13.9 kg in total and had an estimated street value of 7.5 million rands (about $900,000), Xinhua reported.
The man had travelled to South Africa before and he was being closely monitored when he was arrested, SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay said.
There has been a growing demand for rhino horn in Vietnam where it is a luxury item, used as a post-partying cleanser and a purported cancer cure. But there is no scientific proof for this.
About 180 rhinos were poached this year in South Africa, according to wildlife officials. The government has appealed to the public to assist in fighting rhino poaching.
- Rhino poaching on rise in South Africa - May 09, 2012
- Rhino horn more expensive than gold in South Africa - Jan 17, 2011
- Rhino killed in South Africa - Mar 03, 2012
- South African game park officials arrested for rhino poaching - Mar 01, 2012
- 220 rhinos killed in South Africa this year - May 23, 2012
- Rhino mother, baby killed in South Africa - Feb 11, 2012
- $65,000 reward to nab South Africa rhino poachers - Feb 13, 2012
- Britain to campaign for saving rhinos - Aug 15, 2011
- Rhino poaching surge in South Africa - Jan 13, 2012
- Nearly 300 rhinos killed in South Africa this year - Jul 19, 2012
- Poachers Kill Last Female Rhino For Its Horns - Jul 20, 2010
- 18 rhino carcasses found in South Africa - Nov 19, 2010
- Animal rights campaigners accidentally kill rhino - Feb 11, 2012
- Wildlife Officials Call For Urgent Action as Poachers Kill Park's Last Female Rhino - Jul 20, 2010
- Rhino poaching on the rise worldwide - Dec 02, 2009
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