Hawks foil illegal elephant tusk transaction

The Hawks have arrested five men who were trying to sell an illegal elephant tusk during an undercover operation in Bloemfontein yesterday afternoon. The Free State police spokesperson, Chaka Marope, says the police earlier received information of people who were trying to sell the tusk and setup a transaction with the suspects. A female officer posed as a potential buyer and met with the men at Rose Gardens, behind the Loch Logan Waterfront. The men allegedly wanted to sell it for R28 000 for the 5.5 kg ivory, which is valued at R168 000. Two of the suspects are Zimbabwean nationals and the remaining three are South African. They will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s court on Monday, to face charges of dealing and possession of illegal elephant tusk.