Rhino horn smugglers are employing increasingly inventive methods to transport illegal goods out of South Africa. In one such attempt, smugglers tried to hide rhino horn inside a sculpture, but alert officers from the OR Tambo International Airport police managed to intercept the contraband.
According to National Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, officers discovered 10kg of rhino horn during a routine inspection at the airport’s cargo shipment warehouse. This discovery was made during the police’s regular weekly operations.
“The officers were conducting their usual checks when they came across an artistic sculpture that raised their suspicions,” Mathe said.
Upon further investigation, the sculpture was ground down, revealing four hidden pieces of rhino horn concealed within its structure.
At this time, no arrests have been made, and an investigation is underway to trace the origins of the rhino horn. Authorities are also working to verify the authenticity of the shipping label, which listed an address in China as the destination for the illicit cargo. The police continue to track those involved in the smuggling operation, seeking to disrupt these increasingly creative and illegal efforts to profit from wildlife trafficking.
This incident highlights the persistent threat to endangered species like the rhino, whose horns are highly valued on the black market, often for use in traditional medicine or as a status symbol. Law enforcement is ramping up its vigilance, but the battle against poaching and illegal wildlife trade is far from over.
