Joint flora operation yields great success

A successful buy and bust led to the arrest of four adult male suspects for illegal possession of protected plants.

On Friday, 28 January 2022 at about 15:00 information was followed up by Springbok and Kuilsriver Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STESU) Units. The members met with possible dealers of protected plants at a mall in Mitchellsplain, Cape Town.

The police agent found the four suspects in their vehicle at a parking lot where STESU pounced on them. Police searched the vehicle and found 6249 Conophytum and 2726 Pelargonium Repaceum inside their car.

STESU confiscated the protected plants, 4 cellphones and their silver Ford Ranger bakkie as it was allegedly utilized in the commission of crime.

The suspects will soon appear in the Mitchellsplain Magistrates’ Court on charges of illegal possession of protected plants. The investigation continues.

Source: South African Police Service

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