On August 3, 2024 near Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa, a wildlife trafficking operation, dubbed Operation Shaneta, led to the arrest of four individuals attempting to sell a live pangolin. The arrests took place on August 8, 2024, following critical intelligence developed by the South Africa Investigative Liaison for Focused Conservation.
The intelligence indicated that the pangolin was being offered for sale at R220,000. Acting on this information, the Liaison successfully negotiated a meeting with the traffickers, with support from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). During the undercover operation, the suspects arrived at the designated location in a BMW and presented the live pangolin to the operative.
The four subjects—two South Africans, one Malawian, and one Zimbabwean—were immediately arrested and are currently detained at the Bronkhorstspruit SAPS office. The operation was a coordinated effort that included officers from the Cullman Stock & Endangered Species Unit, K9 officers from Pretoria, Bronkhorstspruit, and Benoni, as well as Kapanga Security Services, all of whom provided critical assistance to Focused Conservation.
In addition to the pangolin, the BMW and four cellphones were seized as part of the operation. The pangolin, a pregnant female named Maxie, is now under the care of the Johannesburg Wildlife Hospital, where she is receiving the necessary medical attention and care.
This successful operation underscores the ongoing efforts of Focused Conservation and its partners to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species. The arrest of these traffickers is a significant step in the fight to save pangolins, the world’s most trafficked mammal.
