A man was arrested on Thursday, while travelling by bus from Springbok in the Northern Cape to Cape Town, on the basis of dealing in endangered plants worth R1.6 million.
In the Northern Cape, it is illegal to move endangered species out of the province without a permit.
Northern Cape provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, said: “Springbok Highway Patrol received information about an alleged succulent poacher, operationalised it and arrested one male with Conophytums worth about R1.6 million.”
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Police in Garies responded soon after receiving the information, intercepting the bus and conducting a search in which the man was found with the poached Conophytum plants.
Conophytum is one of the endangered succulents suffering from the increased illegal trade in plants.

“The adult male suspect was arrested and will be appearing in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of alleged dealing in endangered plants,” Kock continued.
This incident comes among others, with many recent cases of people illegally transporting plants, especially abalone, across the country.
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Picture: IOL / SAPS