The Green Scorpions are the department's enforcement arm. The arrests were made on Tuesday. 

“The success of the joint operation once again confirms that the sharing of information and collaboration between the different law enforcement entities is key in South Africa’s fight against wildlife crime,” said Creecy. 

Environmental management inspectors were alerted to the suspicious shipment after it was discovered that there was no booking for the shipment of the lion bones. Three members of the Green Scorpions were joined by a member of the police’s crime intelligence unit.

According to the transportation document, the shipment had been mis-declared. When the shipment was inspected, 12 boxes of lion bones wrapped in aluminium foil, weighing 342kg, were discovered.

During a follow-up operation that included members of the Hawks, Ekurhuleni Metro Police, Police Crime Intelligence and the Green Scorpions, a person was arrested in Kempton Park and taken to the OR Tambo International Airport police station for questioning. Investigations are ongoing.

ANA