S Africa police seize USD million assets from rhino poachers

The men are already facing 1,872 charges of racketeering.

Properties and assets belonging to a game farmer, Dawie Groenewald and two others were confiscated during a sting operation by g the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and South African Police Service (SAPS), Buanews reported.

"This team has seized assets in the region of R55 million (USD 6.8 million), believed to have been acquired through criminal activities, particularly rhino poaching from Dawie Groenewald, two veterinary surgeons, Drs Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis," said national police spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo.

Groenewald and veterinary surgeons Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis and nine others were arrested in late 2010.

The charges include assault, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the National Environmental Biodiversity Act and racketeering.

"We are still attaching all 11 suspects' assets and we will make sure that we attach more of them until that [court] case resumes in October this year," Naidoo said.

He said while the matter was still before the court, the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize and preserve the assets of an accused until the case is finalised.

The properties, which include houses, helicopters, luxury vehicles, town houses and farms were believed to have been accumulated through rhino poaching activities.