{"id":57118,"date":"2022-07-14T14:24:12","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T12:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/operation-targets-illegal-trade-in-species-20220713-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T21:19:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T19:19:35","slug":"operation-targets-illegal-trade-in-species-20220713-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/operation-targets-illegal-trade-in-species-20220713-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation targets illegal trade in species"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Two foreign nationals were arrested\u00a0for being in possession of Tops species<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>He had no permits for the specimen found in his possession<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The 35-year-old admitted guilt and was given a R3 000 fine<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Two foreign nationals were arrested in Mmamahabane and Ventersburg for being in possession of threatened or protected species (Tops) specimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 7 July the police, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) conducted environmental operations in this district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Mmamahabane, a 48-year-old male was arrested on three charges of possession of TOPS specimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He had no permits for the specimen found in his possession, and he is apparently also in the country illegally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the same day the operational support, the community policing forum (CPF) and the Ventersburg SAPS, together with Destea, continued with the multi-disciplinary operations and arrested another foreign national.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Charged with possession of an indigenous plant without permit to sell, the 35-year-old admitted guilt and was given a R3 000 fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was ordered to pay the fine before 25 July or, alternatively, appear in court on 25 August. 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