#BREAKINGNEWS!!! Alleged #rhino #poaching #kingpin “Mr Big” arrested in Hawks Police Raid Press release published by Saving the Wild, June 15th, 2018 on savingthewild.com. On Tuesday June 12th, raids led by the #Hawks #Police, took place at various Hazyview and Nelspruit premises of the alleged rhino poaching kingpin, Petros Sydney Mabuza, known in law enforcement and poaching gang circles as “Mr Big”. He was arrested and detained by police. (CAS 45 / 6 / 2018) On Thursday June 14th, the 54 year old Mabuza appeared at Hazyview Magistrates Court before Magistrate Baloyi and was charged with six preliminary counts as follows: 1. Conspiracy to commit a prohibited offense in terms of the National Biodiversity Act 10/2004 section 57 (1). 2. Possession of unlicensed firearm to wit, the barrel of a .416 rifle. 3. Possession of ammunition without being in possession of a license to wit, six .416 cartridges. 4. Possession of a prohibited firearm, barrel of .416 serial number removed. 5. Possession of an unlawful firearm with the intention to commit a crime. 6. Charges in terms of unlawful credit agreements. With reference to the June 14th official media statement by Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks Police), Mabuza is also “accused of trafficking rhino horns in Acornhoek, Mpumalanga.” //// RELATED NEWS: Suspects caught with R1 million worth of rhino horns //// Mabuza was represented by Advocate Sigode. After initial bail was denied, Mabuza is currently in police custody until June 20th, where he will apply for bail during a formal bail application. Further rhino related charges could also be added. Saving the Wild, committed to pursuing high level targets profiteering from #wildlife #trafficking, had been gathering intelligence on Mr Big’s alleged #syndicate for several months. “But intelligence is inconsequential if there is no follow through,” says JP Roux, Head of Investigations for Saving the Wild, “We are grateful that the Hawks #Endangered #Species Unit, led by Colonel Johan Jooste, are committed to disrupting the supply chain, because that really is the game changer in this decade long bloody war. We are cheering them on as they continue to go from strength to strength.” Regarded as one of the three major rhino poaching kingpins in South Africa, Mabuza started out as a common poacher and is now a force to be reckoned with. The alleged syndicate boss owns numerous properties and businesses in the province of Mpumalanga. According to Saving the Wild sources, “Mr Big” used to send his rhino poaching gangs predominantly to the #Kruger National Park, but since 2017 he has been expanding operations into #Zululand, especially the flagship #Hluhluwe #Imfolozi Game Reserve. It is believed that he rents out vehicles and rifles to prospective poachers wishing to hunt rhino. He sends his own teams with those poachers to ensure his investment. The poachers then sell the horns to Mr Big when they return the vehicles and firearms. Mabuza also acts as a middleman by purchasing rhino horn from other poachers. He then supplies the horns to #Chinese buyers in his network. Saving the Wild congratulates all involved in this groundbreaking joint operation, including Counter Intelligence, the Special Task Force, the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory and #SANParks. Says Jamie Joseph, Director of Saving the Wild, “The battle for #justice begins now. An astute business man like Petros Mabuza does not yield such power without help from allies in high places. Saving the Wild will be monitoring the proceedings, as we have done in the case of the alleged rhino poaching kingpin of Zululand, Dumisani Gwala, with that trial expected to finally start in the coming weeks after a slew of more than 20 delays.” In October 2017, Saving the Wild published the ‘Blood Rhino Blacklist’ expose, an alleged Zululand syndicate of magistrates and prosecutors who had for years, allegedly taken bribes on rhino poaching cases. In April 2018, Deputy Minister of Justice, John Jeffery, confirmed an investigation into Regional Court President of the KwaZulu Natal province, Mr Eric #Nzimande, and magistrates under his command whom Saving the Wild had investigated and accused of defeating the ends of justice. #BloodRhinoBlacklist For regular updates in this monumental breakthrough in the rhino crisis, and all high level rhino poaching cases, follow Saving the Wild on Facebook and Twitter. savingthewild.com: #JusticeForRhinos https://www.savingthewild.com/2018/06/kingpinbigarrested/