South African justice investigates an American for alleged rhino trafficking

The South African justice system today denied bail and kept in custody a US citizen arrested on December 22 on charges related to the poachingafter the Police found 26 rhino carcasses not declared on your property.

“The Police is still investigating and verifying certain information he submitted. Next week there will be a new hearing on his request for parole“, the spokesman for the Police from the South African province of Limpopo (northeast), Hulani Mashaba.

Derek Lewitton, 53, who appeared briefly in the Namakgale Town Magistrate’s Court for the second time today, faces charges of illegal possession of firearms and wildlife trafficking.

The accused has an organization of rhino protection called Black Rock Rhino Conservation, but he was arrested after the Police obtained information that indicated that he kept firearms without a license and rhino horns on his farm near the town of Gravelotte, Mashaba said.

After entering the property, the agents discovered, in addition to the bodies of 26 rhinoshorns (without the markings they bear when legally obtained) worth 10 million South African rands (about 490,000 euros), seven illegal weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

“Everywhere you looked, there were rhino carcasses scattered everywhere. When we searched the house, we found 17 rhino horns in the safe. Seven were marked and had the paperwork in order. The other ten were unmarked and did not have any documentation”Declared in a statement on December 27, Limpopo Police Deputy Commissioner Jan Scheepers.

“The law is very clear: when you find a rhinoceros In the savanna, it doesn’t matter if he was killed or died of natural causes, you can’t remove his horns. You have to inform the Police and the relevant authorities, who will come to remove the horn, and that is when they will grant you a permit so that it can remain in your hands.Scheepers added.

He South African Ministry of Environment reported last August that rhino poaching continues to decline in the country, with the deaths of 231 of these animals in the first six months of 2023, 11% less compared to the same period last year.

The authorities also reported that, in the first six months of 2023, they convicted 31 criminals for having killed rhinos and for illicit possession of firearms and ammunition, among others, with prison sentences between 16 and 39 years.

The poachers Of rhinos look for their horns, which are sold mainly in Asian markets, where they are attributed healing and aphrodisiac properties.

In South Africa It is estimated that there are about 20,000 specimens living there, which is by far the largest colony of these animals in the world.