South African Rhino Breeder Charged in $14 Million Smuggling Scheme

South African authorities have charged renowned rhino breeder John Hume and five accomplices with operating a sophisticated rhino horn smuggling network. The allegations involve a scheme linked to 964 rhino horns with an estimated value of $14.1 million. The suspects handed themselves over to law enforcement on Tuesday, as detailed by the National Prosecuting Authority.

Hume, aged 83, is known for owning one of the largest rhino herds globally at his ranch in Johannesburg. Following their surrender, he was granted bail set at $5,000 by the Pretoria magistrates court, with conditions that included surrendering their passports. The group is scheduled for a court appearance on December 9, 2023.

A lengthy investigation by South African officials, spanning seven years, indicated that the suspects allegedly obtained permits under false pretenses. They purportedly engaged in domestic buying and selling of rhino horns while diverting these horns into illegal markets in Southeast Asia. Although South African law permits domestic trade with valid permits, international commercial trade in rhino horns is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

At his Rhinos of Buffalo Dream Ranch, Hume and his team are responsible for over 1,600 rhinos, including more than 1,000 that have been bred on the property. The six accused include a lawyer, an insurance broker, and a game reserve manager. They face a total of 55 charges, which include racketeering, fraud, theft, and money laundering.

In response to the ongoing investigation, South Africa’s Environment Minister Dion George emphasized the importance of protecting the nation’s natural heritage. He described the inquiry as a significant demonstration of the government’s commitment to combat wildlife crime.

The country continues to grapple with the challenge of rhino poaching, with reports indicating that 103 rhinos were killed between January 1 and March 31, 2023. Authorities have increasingly focused on dismantling the criminal syndicates believed to be orchestrating much of the poaching. South Africa is home to the largest rhino population in the world, estimated at 16,000 to 18,000, which includes both white and critically endangered black rhinos.